Incredible comeback: Halfback shines in Clydesdales debut after year-long knee recovery

Switching Sydney for Toowoomba last year, Luke Rouland was ready to chase his rugby league dream but his first trial game was cut short by a horror injury that sidelined him for a year. Find out why he stuck it out with the Western Clydesdales here.

Last February, Luke Rouland swapped Sydney for Toowoomba – chasing an NRL dream.

He pulled on a Western Clydesdales jersey for the first time in a trial game on February 4 in what would be a bittersweet debut for the Hostplus Cup side.

Not long after scoring a try against the visiting Canterbury Bulldogs side the crafty halfback’s season was over.

Rouland damaged his ACL in the match and was ruled out for the season.

It has been a long road to recovery but more than after that trial Rouland made his Hostplus Cup debut at the weekend.

Bulldogs player Tyrone Nean attempts to stop Luke Rouland from scoring a try for the Western Clydesdales. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“I was lucky enough to get the call to come up here last year, but unlucky enough to do my knee in my first game,” Rouland said.

“The club were right behind me the whole way from day one and I can’t thank them enough.

“I had a good physio team up here that helped me with my rehab … 12 months later they had me back on the field playing trials and here I am after round 1.

“I’m glad I stuck it out after getting the opportunity.”

Luke Rouland scores a try for the Western Clydesdales during a 2023 trial match against Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Picture: Nev Madsen.

As well as support from the Clydesdales Rouland, who worked as an electrician in Sydney, had the full backing of his employer NRG Services during his recovery.

The Clydesdales opened their 2024 Hostplus Cup season at home on Saturday.

The 28-10 defeat was not the start the Clydesdales, but Rouland said they can take some positives away from the performance.

“It was not the way we wanted to start the season, but there are a lot of positives come out of the game,” Rouland said.

“We stuck with it for the whole game.

“We came out of the sheds firing after halftime and got first points to get back in the game.”

“It was just some silly little errors under fatigue that really cost us in the end.

“If we can minimise those mistakes and capitalise on their (mistakes) we will go a long way this season.”