Luke O'Donnell
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luke O'Donnell | |
| Date of birth | October 22, 1980 | |
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | |
| Height | 1.86 m | |
| Weight | 102 kg | |
| Nickname | Brains | |
| Position | Lock | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | North Queensland Cowboys | |
| Number | 12 | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| Milton-Ulladulla | ||
| Professional clubs* | ||
| Years | Club | Apps (points) |
| 1999 2000–2003 2004–present |
Balmain Wests Tigers Cowboys |
3 (0) 48 (12) 68 (32) |
| Representative teams** | ||
| 2006–present 2004–present |
NSW Australia |
2 (0) 8 (0) |
|
* Professional club appearances and points |
||
Luke O'Donnell (born October 22, 1980 in Liverpool, New South Wales) is a rugby league player for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League competition.
As a tough-as-nails lock, O'Donnell is the quintessential modern rugby league forward able to play the full eighty minutes. O'Donnell combines stinging defence with solid hit ups, usually just off the ruck, often catching opposition defenders napping. North Queensland Cowboys coach Graham Murray frequently gives O'Donnell the assignment of targeting oppositions teams' playmakers through clever attack and defence.
His debut for the Balmain Tigers against the Sydney City Roosters was marked by a sin binning (not known why) and in 2006 was sent off for a high shot on New Zealand Warriors hooker Lance Hohaia.
O'Donnell sparked controversy after a Round 2, 2003 match against the Canberra Raiders at Leichhardt Oval when he smashed then-Raiders halfback Michael Monaghan in the face. He was given a long suspension and in the interval signed for the Cowboys for the 2004 season.
One of the aspects of O'Donnell's game that is a throwback to the 60s and 70s rugby league era is his unwillingness to back away from physical confrontations with niggling opposition players. O'Donnell is rare in the world of professional footballers in that he wears his club/state/country heart on his sleeve and in the heat of battle can throw the odd punch when required.
North Queensland Cowboys fans have been quick to embrace O'Donnell's tough approach to the game, as well as a legion of female fans who admire his well-chiseled muscular frame. Such is the shape of O'Donnell's body that whilst in camp with the 2006 New South Wales Origin team, he earnt the moniker as 'Adonis', embarrassing many of his teams mates in team medicals, weights and recovery sessions with his sculpted six-pack, fitness and bench press abilities.
[edit] 2005
2005 was easily Luke O'Donnell's brightest season yet with a Grand Final appearance with the North Queensland Cowboys then going on to represent his country Australia for the Tri-Nations competition.
- Position - Lock
- Junior Club - Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs, Albion Park Oak Flats
- Previous Clubs - Balmain Tigers 1999, Wests Tigers 2000-2003
- NRL Debut - Balmain Tigers v Sydney City Roosters, Leichhardt Oval, Round 22 1999
- Career Games - 111
- Career Tries - 10
- Career Goals - 0
- Total Career Points - 40
- Representative Honours - 5 tests for Australia 2005; 2005 Tri-Nations tournament; 2 games for NSW 2006
Information accurate to end of 2005 season
