Luke O'Donnell

{{Short description|Australia international rugby league footballer (born 1980)}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Luke O'Donnell

|fullname = Luke O'Donnell

|image = Lukeodonnellfanday2008.jpg

|caption = O'Donnell in 2008

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|10|22|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia

|retired = yes

|height = {{convert|6|ft|1|in|cm|order=flip|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.giantsrl.com/news/article/1956/giants-to-boast-biggest-pack|title=Giants to Boast Biggest Pack|website=Huddersfield Giants|publisher=Huddersfield Giants|access-date=1 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713134917/http://www.giantsrl.com/news/article/1956/giants-to-boast-biggest-pack|archive-date=13 July 2018|url-status=dead}}

|weight = {{convert|101|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|position = {{rlp|SR|LK|PR}}

|club1 = Balmain Tigers

|year1start = 1999

|year1end =

|appearances1 = 3

|tries1 = 0

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 0

|club2 = Wests Tigers

|year2start = 2000

|year2end = 03

|appearances2 = 48

|tries2 = 3

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 12

|club3 = {{nowrap|North Qld Cowboys}}

|year3start = 2004

|year3end = 10

|appearances3 = 117

|tries3 = 23

|goals3 = 0

|fieldgoals3 = 0

|points3 = 92

|club4 = {{nowrap|Huddersfield Giants}}

|year4start = 2011

|year4end = 12

|appearances4 = 27

|tries4 = 2

|goals4 = 0

|fieldgoals4 = 0

|points4 = 8

|club5 = Sydney Roosters

|year5start = 2013

|year5end =

|appearances5 = 20

|tries5 = 1

|goals5 = 0

|fieldgoals5 = 0

|points5 = 4

|teamA = {{nowrap|New South Wales}}

|yearAstart = 2006

|yearAend = 10

|appearancesA = 5

|triesA = 0

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 0

|teamB = Australia

|yearBstart = 2005

|yearBend = 06

|appearancesB = 11

|triesB = 0

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 0

|teamC = NSW City

|yearCstart = 2005

|yearCend = 10

|appearancesC = 3

|triesC = 0

|goalsC = 0

|fieldgoalsC = 0

|pointsC = 0

|teamD = {{nowrap|Prime Minister's XIII}}

|yearDstart = 2006

|yearDend =

|appearancesD = 1

|triesD = 0

|goalsD = 0

|fieldgoalsD = 0

|pointsD = 0

|teamE = NRL All Stars

|yearEstart = 2010

|yearEend =

|appearancesE = 1

|triesE = 0

|goalsE = 0

|fieldgoalsE = 0

|pointsE = 0

|source = {{Cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Luke_O-Donnell/summary.html|title=RLP|accessdate=2 May 2023}}

|updated = 16 December 2023

| module = {{infobox person

| embed = yes

| father =

| mother =

| spouse =

| education =

| alma_mater =

| relatives = Kyle O'Donnell (brother)

}}

Luke O'Donnell (born 22 October 1980) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he previously played his club football in Australia with National Rugby League teams the Balmain Tigers, Wests Tigers, North Queensland Cowboys and the Sydney Roosters, with whom he featured in the club's 13th premiership. O'Donnell also played for two seasons with the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League.

Early years

Born in Liverpool on 22 October 1980{{Cite web |title=NQ Toyota Cowboys 2008 Team: Luke O'Donnell |url=http://www.cowboys.com.au/players.php?comp=NRL%202008&id=72 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721235042/http://www.cowboys.com.au/players.php?comp=NRL%202008&id=72 |archive-date=21 July 2008 |access-date=21 July 2008 |website=Toyota Cowboys}} and raised in Manyana, New South Wales, O'Donnell attended Ulladulla High School playing for the Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs in the Group 7 Rugby League from 1990 to 1996.{{cite web|title=Luke makes origin team|url=http://www.ulladullatimes.com.au/news/local/sport/general/luke-makes-origin-team/1536982.aspx|work=Milton Ulladulla Times Newspaper|access-date=19 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818133555/http://www.ulladullatimes.com.au/news/local/sport/general/luke-makes-origin-team/1536982.aspx|archive-date=18 August 2010|df=dmy-all}}

After retiring in 2013, O'Donnell has opened a chicken shop named "Tub & Kilo" in Rosebery, Sydney.{{cite web|title=Natural progression? Retired Sydney Roosters player Luke O'Donnell begins new career in chook shop|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/natural-progression-retired-sydney-roosters-player-luke-odonnell-begins-new-career-in-chook-shopp/story-fngr8h22-1226943304088|work=Daily Telegraph|access-date=19 March 2011}}

His younger brother Kyle O'Donnell also became an NRL footballer.

Playing career

=Balmain and Wests Tigers=

O'Donnell made his first grade début with the Balmain Tigers on 31 July 1999. He was sin binned on his début match, a loss to the Sydney City Roosters at Leichhardt Oval. O'Donnell made three appearances off the bench during the 1999 season, all losses.{{cite web|title=Rugby League Project – Luke O'Donnell|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/MjAtLTQtLS0tLS0xNzItLS0tLS0tLS0=|access-date=2 January 2010| website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}

From 2000, O'Donnell played 4 seasons with the Wests Tigers, playing in 48 games. However, in the second game of the 2003 season O'Donnell received an 11-week suspension for a late, high tackle that left Michael Monaghan with a broken jaw,{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=NRL throws the Good Book at O'Donnell|author=Brad Walter|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/26/1048653750816.html|access-date=2 January 2010|date=27 March 2003}} and played no further games with the Tigers. At the time, it was the second longest suspension in NRL history.

=North Queensland Cowboys=

O'Donnell joined the North Queensland Cowboys from the 2004 season, and that season was named the club's player of the year.[http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=honours Honours] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012233017/http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=honours |date=12 October 2011 }} at cowboys.com.au Also in 2004 he was in the first Cowboys team to make the semi-finals. The following year O'Donnell played at second row in the North Queensland Cowboys' first ever Grand Final in 2005 which they lost to his former club, the Wests Tigers. He was then chosen for the 2005 Tri-Nations team.

Early in the 2007 NRL season, O'Donnell was involved in a "wishbone" tackle that pulled all his hamstring muscles on his left leg away from his pelvic bone, leaving him unable to play for the rest of the season.{{cite news|newspaper=Courier Mail|title=Luke O'Donnell says wishbone tackle should be banned|author=Matt Marshall|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22842842-10389,00.html|access-date=2 January 2010|date=29 November 2007}}{{cite news|newspaper=Courier Mail|title=O'Donnell out for season|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21538789-10389,00.html|access-date=2 January 2010|date=10 April 2007}}{{cite news|newspaper=Courier Mail|title=Cowboys' O'Donnell to face Tigers wishbone trio|author=Matt Marshall and Karl deKroo|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,23399567-5003409,00.html|access-date=2 January 2010|date=18 March 2008}} The opposition players involved, including Liam Fulton and Bronson Harrison were not charged over the incident.

In 2008, O'Donnell received a 7-week suspension relating to 2 separate striking charges and abusing a sideline official.{{cite news|newspaper=Courier Mail|title=Cowboys' Luke O'Donnell cops seven match suspension|author=Karl deKroo|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,23812353-10389,00.html|access-date=2 January 2010|date=4 June 2008}}

In August 2008, O'Donnell was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.{{cite news|author=Liam FitzGibbon |publisher="Fox Sports News (Australia)" |title=Surprises in Kangaroos squad |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24111780-23214,00.html |access-date=2 August 2008 |date=1 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808144730/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0%2C8659%2C24111780-23214%2C00.html |archive-date=8 August 2008 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/01/sports/AS-RGL-Australia-Squad.php|title=Veteran Lockyer named in Australian squad|newspaper=International Herald Tribune|date=1 August 2008|access-date=2 August 2008}} He was selected for City in the City vs Country match on 8 May 2009.{{cite news|work=Fox Sports|title=Blues halfback duel in two as Mitchell Pearce misses selection|first=Todd|last=Balym|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25422326-5016947,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205020103/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25422326-5016947,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 December 2012|date=3 May 2009|access-date=3 May 2009}} Later that month, he was named in the 17 man squad to represent New South Wales in the opening State of Origin match on 3 June 2009, in Melbourne.{{cite news|last=Fitzgibbon|first=Liam|publisher=Fox Sports News (Australia)|title=NSW selectors go with form and not reputation for Origin opener|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25537374-5018993,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730123123/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25537374-5018993,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 July 2012|access-date=30 May 2009|date=25 May 2009}} Also in 2009 he was named the Cowboys' player of the year for the second time.

In July 2010, it was announced that O'Donnell had signed a four-year deal to play for the Super League team the Huddersfield Giants.{{cite news|publisher=Huddersfield Giants|title=Giants land international bank row star|url=http://giantsrl.dnsupdate.co.uk/latestNews/NewsArticle.asp?Index=3631|access-date=22 July 2010|date=21 July 2010}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} During his final NRL season he was selected to play the NRL All Stars Game for the first and only time in his career and was banned for three weeks following an ugly incident in Game II of the 2010 State of Origin series where he dangerously tackled Queensland's Darius Boyd and appeared to headbutt Dave Taylor.{{cite news|newspaper=Herald Sun|title=Luke O'Donnell lays blame on Maroons|author=Andrew Webster|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/luke-odonnell-lays-blame-on-maroons/story-e6frfgbo-1225881090327|access-date=5 July 2010|date=18 June 2010}} Teammate Mitchell Pearce said of the incident,"I thought he was going to eat him!"{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=Pearce says Blues must take simple approach to conquer Queensland|author=Chris Barrett|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/pearce-says-blues-must-take-simple-approach-to-conquer-queensland-20100704-zvwb.html|access-date=5 July 2010|date=5 July 2010}}

O'Donnell was sent off twice during his time with the Cowboys, once in 2006 (playing against the New Zealand Warriors in a match the Cowboys lost 26-0) and once in 2008 (in a match against Penrith which the Cowboys lost in golden point extra time).

O'Donnell left the Cowboys as the most suspended player in NRL history, having spent 29 games suspended. "It was really disappointing considering I work so hard and then come game time you feel like you have a target on your head," he later said.{{cite web|title=O'Donnell relieved to be away from NRL

|url=http://onehd.com.au/onehd/newsarticles/Rugby-League-ODonnell-relieved-to-be-away-from-NRL.htm|access-date=2 March 2011| publisher=One HD}}

=Huddersfield Giants=

O'Donnell joined old Cowboys' teammate David Faiumu at Huddersfield. He was selected for the Exiles squad for the Rugby League International Origin Match against England at Headingley on 10 June 2011.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/13278410.stm|title=Warrington dominate Exiles picks for Origin fixture|work=bbc.co.uk|date=4 May 2011|access-date=4 May 2011}}

=Sydney Roosters=

On 14 February 2013, it was announced that Luke has signed with the Sydney Roosters on a 1-year deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.roosters.com.au/news-display/ODONNELL-JOINS-THE-ROOSTERS/68355|title=Sydney Roosters on a 1 year deal|publisher=roosters.com.au|date=14 February 2013|access-date=14 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217085019/http://www.roosters.com.au/news-display/ODONNELL-JOINS-THE-ROOSTERS/68355|archive-date=17 February 2013|df=dmy-all}} He played only 3 times before being suspended for breaching the Code of Conduct.[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/sydney-roosters-suspend-luke-odonell-for-breaching-code-of-conduct/story-e6frfgf6-1226606980952 Sydney Roosters Suspend Luke Odonell For Breaching Code Of Conduct] Herald Sun {{dead link|date=May 2023}}

He featured in the Roosters' premiership winning side at the end of the season. He then announced his retirement from the game on 12 December 2013.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/9509898/Luke-O-Donnell-calls-time-on-his-NRL-career Luke O'Donnell calls time on his NRL career], Stuff.co.nz, 12 December 2013

Personal life

On 30 January 2019, video footage emerged of O'Donnell being arrested by NSW Police in June 2018. O'Donnell's parents had called police to the players home after he was reported to be acting erratically. It was reported he had been holding a knife to his chin and was hanging out the window of his third story apartment.

When police arrived O'Donnell said “Listen here you cunt you’re not putting handcuffs on me I’ll fucking smash the fuck out of you get off me". O'Donnell was charged with intimidation, causing malicious damage, assaulting a female senior constable in the execution of her duty and resisting arrest. O’Donnell was convicted and fined $1,600 and placed on a one year community corrections order.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/disturbing-footage-has-emerged-of-luke-odonnell-being-arrested-at-his-home-in-clovelly-last-year/news-story/62b8a1b829d1e9b1b0ad92f5c2dd2001/|title=Disturbing footage has emerged of Luke O'Donnell being arrested at his home in Clovelly last year|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=30 January 2019}}