Luke Covell
{{Short description|NZ international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Luke Covell
|fullname =
|image = Luke Covell.jpg
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|11|9|df=y}}
|birth_place = Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia
|height = {{convert|187|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|98|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|WG}}
|club1 = Wests Tigers
|year1start = 2003
|year1end = 04
|appearances1 = 22
|tries1 = 7
|goals1 = 57
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 142
|club2 = {{nowrap|Cronulla Sharks}}
|year2start = 2005
|year2end = 10
|appearances2 = 131
|tries2 = 55
|goals2 = 364
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 948
| teamA = {{nowrap|NSW Residents}}
| yearAstart = 2004
| yearAend =
| appearancesA = 1
| triesA = 0
| goalsA = 2
| fieldgoalsA = 0
| pointsA = 4
|teamB = NSW Country
|yearBstart = 2005
|appearancesB = 1
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 3
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 6
|teamC = New Zealand
|yearCstart = 2007
|appearancesC = 1
|triesC = 0
|goalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
|retired = yes
|source = [http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=546 NRL Stats] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727181706/http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=546 |date=27 July 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Luke_Covell/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}[http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Luke-Covell_360015.aspx Yesterday's Hero] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810160305/http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Luke-Covell_360015.aspx |date=10 August 2012}}
|updated = 8 January 2024
}}
Luke Covell (born 9 November 1981) is a former New Zealand international rugby league footballer who played as a goal-kicking winger for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Wests Tigers in the NRL.
He also played at representative level for NSW Country and was described as one of the most respected players in the NRL.{{cite news|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|title=Luke Covell retires, Sharks chase Colin Best|author=David Riccio|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/luke-covell-retires-sharks-chase-colin-best/story-e6frexnr-1225903422591|accessdate=11 August 2010|date=10 August 2010}} Although born and raised in Australia, Covell was eligible to play for New Zealand through his father, making one appearance for the Kiwis in 2007.
Early life
Covell was born in Goondiwindi, Queensland, to a New Zealand father and an Australian mother.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/sport/league/25944/Covell-proud-to-be-a-Kiwi|publisher=Stuff|date=31 January 2009|title=Covell proud to be a Kiwi|accessdate=20 March 2021}} He was raised in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, and attended Mt St Patrick's College. Covell played early football for the Murwillumbah Colts.
NRL career
Covell debuted with the Wests Tigers in 2003 at the age of 21. The winger's limited game time saw him join the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2004.
In 2007, Covell made his Test Debut for New Zealand against Australia, in which a young Australian side defeated the Kiwis 58–0. Covell however was injured in the early minutes of the match and it was to be his sole international appearance.{{cite web|title=Luke Covell|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/luke-covell/summary.html|accessdate=11 August 2010| publisher=Rugby League Project}}
In 2008, Covell won the Dally M Pointscorer of the Year award, playing a major role in the Cronulla-Sutherland's stellar season. He went on to score over a thousand points in his career.
Covell was known for his lack of speed, but made up for it in determination, and was a fluent goalkicker.{{cite news|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|title=How Luke Covell defied medical convention|author=Phil Rothfield|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/how-luke-covell-defied-medical-convention/story-e6frexnr-1225878590254|accessdate=11 August 2010|date=12 June 2010}} "I know some people out there think I'm too slow for the NRL. Not talented enough. But that's okay ... I've always known it too," Covell once said.{{cite news|newspaper=Herald Sun|title=Not everyone can be Greg Inglis|author=Nick Walshaw|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/not-everyone-can-be-greg-inglis/story-e6frfgbo-1225904599548|accessdate=17 August 2010|date=13 August 2010}}
In 2010, Covell became the first NRL Player to have (LARS) ligament augmentation and reconstruction surgery. Not long after his return from surgery, he announced he intended to retire at the end of the 2010 season, saying, "I’m proud to say I played for the Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers, I’ve had a great time and I wouldn’t change a thing."
Post-NRL career
Covell returned home to play for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League. He played in the second row and as the team's goalkicker. In 2012, Covell won a premiership with his late penalty goal resulting in the Mustangs overhauling the Grafton Ghosts in the final minutes to win 27–26.{{cite news|author=Greg Martin|work=Daily News|title=Mustangs are grand final champs|url=http://www.mydailynews.com.au/news/mustangs-are-grand-final-champs/1528789/|accessdate=5 March 2013|date=3 September 2012}} Covell played for the Mustangs again in 2013, losing to Ballina in the grand final.
Covell is an Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador for the Australian Government and an Apprentice Mentor in the NRL's Trade UP with the NRL Program.http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/ambassador/luke-covell {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2022}}
In 2014, while undertaking a plumbing apprenticeship and studying at TAFE, Covell represented the New South Wales Tertiary team.{{cite web| publisher= National Rugby League|title=Covell's shock at NSW call-up| first = Tony| last = Webeck| url=http://www.nrl.com/covells-shock-at-nsw-call-up/tabid/10874/newsid/78462/default.aspx|accessdate=1 September 2014|date=15 May 2014}}
His daughter Chloe Covell is an Australian skateboarder,{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/feb/07/skateboard-prodigy-chloe-covell-13-targets-paris-olympics-after-taking-world-silver-medal|title=Chloe Covell: skateboard prodigy, 13, targets Paris Olympics after taking world silver medal|work=The Guardian|first=Mike|last=Hytner|date=7 February 2023|access-date=27 July 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jul/24/x-games-2023-australia-skateboard-skating-records-chloe-covell-arisa-trew|title=Thirteen-year-old Australians make skateboard history as youngsters dominate X Games|work=The Guardian|author=Associated Press|date=23 July 2023|access-date=27 July 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/at-14-covell-could-make-olympic-history-in-paris/ar-BB1qpmBr|title=At 14, Covell could make Olympic history in Paris|work=AAP|first=Roger|last=Vaughan|date=July 2024|access-date=27 July 2024|via=MSN}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/chloe-s-friends-have-gone-back-to-school-she-s-skating-along-the-champs-elysees/ar-BB1qp6KY?ocid=BingNewsSerp|title=Chloe's friends have gone back to school. She's skating along the Champs-Elysees|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Jordan|last=Baker|date=July 22, 2024|access-date=July 27, 2024|via=MSN}} who competed in the women's street event at the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/results/skateboarding/women-s-street/fnl-000100--|title=Women's Street Final Results|work=2024 Summer Olympics|access-date=28 July 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{National Rugby League top points scorers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Covell, Luke}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian people of New Zealand descent
Category:Country New South Wales Origin rugby league team players
Category:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players
Category:New South Wales Residents rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players