Robert Lui
{{short description|Australian professional rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Rob Lui
|fullname = Robert Lui
|image = Rob Lui.jpg
|image_size =
|position = {{rlp|FE|HB}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|2|23|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Townsville, Queensland, Australia
|height = {{convert|1.77|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|weight = {{convert|96|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|club1 = Wests Tigers
|year1start = 2009
|year1end = 11
|appearances1 = 43
|tries1 = 9
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 1
|points1 = 37
|club2 = North Qld Cowboys
|year2start = 2012
|year2end = 15
|appearances2 = 46
|tries2 = 13
|goals2 = 5
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 62
|club3 = Salford Red Devils
|year3start = 2016
|year3end = 19
|appearances3 = 109
|tries3 = 35
|goals3 = 33
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 206
|club4 = {{nowrap|→ Leeds Rhinos}}
|year4start = 2019{{small|(loan)}}
|year4end =
|appearances4 = 10
|tries4 = 3
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 12
|club5 = Leeds Rhinos
|year5start = 2020
|year5end = 21
|appearances5 = 27
|tries5 = 8
|goals5 = 0
|fieldgoals5 = 1
|points5 = 33
|source = [https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Robert-Lui loverugbyleague][http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/player-profile?playerid=109869&teamid=3400 League Central][http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/robert-lui/summary.html RLP]
|updated = 8 June 2021
}}
Robert Lui (born 23 February 1990) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|fe}} or {{rlp|hb}} for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup.
He has previously played for the Wests Tigers and the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL and the Salford Red Devils in the Super League. He spent the latter part of the 2019 Super League season on loan from Salford at the Leeds Rhinos. He moved to Leeds on a permanent basis at the conclusion of his loan move.
Background
Lui was born and brought up in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. He is of Torres Strait Islander descent.
He played his junior football with the Upper Ross Rams and later for the Centrals Tigers{{cite news|work=Courier Mail|title=Wests Tigers pick swimming pool lifeguard Robert Lui to make debut against Sharks|author=Josh Massoud|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-pick-swimming-pool-lifeguard-robert-lui-to-make-debut-against-sharks/story-e6frep5x-1225760414631|access-date=19 May 2010|date=12 August 2009}} before being spotted by the Tigers and undertaking a scholarship at Keebra Park High on the Gold Coast, Queensland.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Tears flow as a family lives out its dream|author=Glenn Jackson|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/08/16/1250361982286.html?feed=fairfaxdigitalxml|access-date=19 May 2010|date=17 August 2010}} In 2007, he made the Queensland Open Schoolboys side and accepted a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport.{{cite web|title=Keebra Park|url=http://www.ourfootyteam.com/schools_qld_keebraPark_shs.php|access-date=22 May 2010| website=ourfootyteam.com}} After completing high school, Lui joined the Wests Tigers NYC team in 2008.
Playing career
=2009=
Lui started the season playing for the Tigers' NYC team. He made his NRL debut in Round 23, in a 56–10 win over Cronulla Sharks, and played 2 further games near the end of the season. Returning to the Wests Tigers' NYC team, he played in the team that lost the Grand Final to Melbourne Storm, scoring a try in the second half.{{cite news|publisher=Fox News (Australia)|title=Melbourne Storm defeat Wests Tigers 24-22 to win 2009 Toyota Cup|author=David Beniuk|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26163342-5016683,00.html|access-date=19 May 2010|date=4 October 2009}} At the end of the season, Lui was named in the Toyota Cup Team of the Year.{{cite web|title=2009 Toyota Cup Team of the Year|url=http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/56509/Default.aspx|access-date=19 May 2010| publisher=National Rugby League}}
=2010=
In March, Lui re-signed for the Wests Tigers to the end of the 2012 season, with coach Tim Sheens describing him as, "an integral part of the team."{{cite news|newspaper=Herald Sun|title=Robert Lui signs two-year deal with Wests Tigers|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/robert-lui-signs-two-year-deal-with-wests-tigers/story-e6frfgbo-1225836671906|access-date=22 May 2010|date=3 March 2010}}
Lui was named to start the season at halfback,{{cite news|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Hasler plots torrid welcome for Tuqiri|author=Chris Barrett|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/hasler-plots-torrid-welcome-for-tuqiri-20100309-pvth.html|access-date=19 May 2010|date=10 March 2010}} but suffered an injury in round 2. Upon his return, in round 10, he scored his first try. Lui played 17 games in 2010, improving as the season progressed,{{cite news|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Lui steps out from Farah and Marshall's shadows to make his own mark|author=Ian McCullough|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/lui-steps-out-from-farah-and-marshalls-shadows-to-make-his-own-mark-20100605-xlrt.html|access-date=27 September 2010|date=6 June 2010}} with one newspaper describing his last game of the year, in the preliminary final, as the, "best game of his career."{{cite news|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Tigers player ratings|author=Josh Rakic|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-match-report/tigers-player-ratings-20100925-15rto.html|access-date=27 September 2010|date=26 September 2010}}
=2011=
Lui played in 23 games in 2011, scoring 5 tries. From round 17 onward, Lui was halfback as Wests Tigers won nine games straight, eventually losing in the semi-final. Lui was said to be, "the first halfback in years to properly gel with Benji Marshall."{{cite news| work= The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney| title=Under-20s 2009 Team of the Year: Where are they now?| author=Nick Campton| url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/under-20s-2009-team-of-the-year-where-are-they-now/story-fni3g0bn-1227425047237|access-date=2 July 2015|date=2 July 2015}}
At the end of the 2011 season, Lui was released from his contract with the Wests Tigers after he was charged with assaulting his partner, Taleah Rae Backo, in her North Strathfield home.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Lui assault case adjourned until next season|author=Greg Prichard|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/lui-assault-case-adjourned-until-next-season-20111209-1onj9.html|access-date=1 January 2012|date=10 December 2011}} He had previously been charged with similar offences after an incident at the end of 2010 season, with those charges being dismissed in April.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=NRL player Robert Lui stood down after assault charge|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/nrl-player-robert-lui-stood-down-after-assault-charge-20110920-1kil7.html|access-date=1 January 2012|date=20 September 2011}} He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on his former partner and was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond and fined $2000.{{cite news|newspaper=The Australian|title=Robert Lui gets two-year good behaviour bond, $2000 fine for assault on girlfriend|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/robert-lui-gets-two-year-good-behaviour-bond-2000-fine-for-assault-on-girlfriend/story-e6frg6nf-1226306225586|access-date=2 April 2012|date=12 March 2012}}
=2012=
Lui signed a two-year contract to play for his hometown team, the North Queensland Cowboys.{{cite news|url=http://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/lui-signs-with-cowboys-146855|title=Lui signs with Cowboys|date=9 November 2011|work=Sportal|access-date=9 November 2011}} He made his debut for the Cowboys in Round 1, coming off the bench to play in the halves. The next few weeks Lui was pushed back to reserve grade to regain match fitness after his pre-season was hindered by a serious knee injury. He played in five games for the Northern Pride. Lui's 2012 campaign was cut short however after being suspended from playing any form of rugby league for the rest of the season after pleading guilty to an assault charge placed against him several months earlier. His ban was placed on him from Round 8. He was free to start playing rugby league again in the 2013 trials.
=2013=
Although being suspended for a majority of the 2012 season, Lui retained his job at the North Queensland Cowboys and remained training with the club full-time for the rest of his suspension. Before his suspension, Lui was regarded as a possible future representative player and was included in the 2011 Emerging Origin Squad for Queensland.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
=2014=
In February 2014, Lui was a member of North Queensland's victorious Auckland Nines side. On 2 September 2014, Lui agreed to a one-year contract extension with the club, keeping him in Townsville until the end of 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2014/09/02/cowboys-re-sign-robert-lui-for-2015/|title=Cowboys resign Robert Lui for 2015|publisher=National Rugby League|date=September 2014}}
=2015=
Lui spent the majority of the 2015 season playing for North Queensland's feeder side, the Townsville Blackhawks. On 3 October, Lui signed a one-year deal with the Salford Red Devils, reuniting him with former coach Tim Sheens.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/34428739/|title=Tim Sheens stays and six players sign|publisher=BBC Sport}}
=2016=
Lui made a total of 21 appearances for Salford in 2016 scoring 11 tries.
=2017=
On 23 June 2017, Salford were up by three converted tries with less than five minutes to play against St Helens. St Helens then scored three converted tries in four minutes to make the score 24–24. With seconds remaining, Lui tried and in-field kick which was picked up by Saints player Matty Smith who kicked a long range field goal to win the match for St Helens 25–24.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/40347063/|title=St Helens 25-24 Salford Red Devils|publisher=BBC Sport}}
On 27 June 2017, Lui signed a long-term contract to remain at Salford.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/40420578/|title=Salford Red Devils half-back signs contract extension|publisher=BBC Sport}}
=2018=
Lui made 21 appearances for Salford in 2018 and finished as the top point scorer for the club. At the start of the year he was subject to a bid by Hull Kingston Rovers which was rejected by Salford.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12204/11221874/salford-red-devils-reject-hull-kr-bid-for-robert-lui/|title=Salford Red Devils reject Hull KR bid for Robert Lui|publisher=Sky Sports}}
=2019=
Lui signed on loan from the Salford Red Devils until the end of the 2019 season, and later signed a two-year contract with Leeds from the 2020 season onwards.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/leeds-rhinos-land-robert-lui-in-tui-lolohea-swap-deal-with-salford/1uyozd4gy311k13m69gteezbwt/|title=Leeds Rhinos land Robert Lui in Tui Lolohea swap deal with Salford|website=sportingnews.com}}
=2020=
On 17 October, Lui played in the 2020 Challenge Cup Final which Leeds won 17–16 over Salford at Wembley Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/54555957/|title=Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal|publisher=BBC Sport}}
=2021=
Lui played a total of 11 games for Leeds in the 2021 Super League season including the club's 36–8 loss against St Helens in the semi-final. The match was Lui's last as a player due to him announcing his retirement earlier in the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/rugby-league/58522487/page/2/|title=Super League semi-final: St Helens beat Leeds to reach Grand Final – as it happened|publisher=BBC}}
On 22 November 2021, it was reported that he had rejoined Townsville Blackhawks, a feeder club to the North Queensland Cowboys{{cite web|website=Townsville Bulletin|title=Robert Lui has returned to the Townsville Blackhawks|date=22 November 2021|accessdate=1 January 2022|url=https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TBWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.townsvillebulletin.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fcowboys%2Fhow-former-cowboy-te-maire-martin-launched-his-inspiring-comeback%2Fnews-story%2F251b9b1f3f317bfa99e7bc325d298870&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium}}
=2022=
Lui played 12 games for Townsville in the 2022 Queensland Cup season. In December, Lui signed for Centrals in the local Townsville district rugby league competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/ex-leeds-rhinos-and-salford-red-devils-halfback-robert-lui-linked-with-stunning-move-56546/|title=Ex-Leeds Rhinos and Salford Red Devils halfback Robert Lui linked with stunning move|website=www.seriousaboutrl.com}}
Statistics
=NRL=
: Statistics are correct to the end of the 2021 season[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/robert-lui/summary.html Robert Lui's player profile at Rugby League Project]
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:85%;" | |||||
| width=2%|Season
!width=8%|Team !width=2%|Matches !width=2%|T !width=2%|G !width=2%|GK % !width=2%|F/G !width=2%|Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2009
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |{{Leagueicon|Wests Tigers|16}} Wests Tigers | 3|| 0|| 0|| —|| 0|| 0 | |||||
| style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2010 | 17 | 4 | 0 | — | 1 | 17 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2011
| 23|| 5|| 0|| —|| 0|| 20 | |||||
| style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2012 | rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |{{Leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} North Queensland Cowboys | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2013
| 16|| 7|| 5|| 71.4|| 0|| 38 | |||||
| style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2014 | 25 | 6 | 0 | — | 0 | 24 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2015
| 4|| 0|| 0|| —|| 0|| 0 | |||||
| 2016
| rowspan="4" |{{leagueicon|Salford City|16}} Salford Red Devils |29 |13 |1 | | |54 | |||||
| 2017
|32 |6 |1 | | |26 | |||||
| 2018
|28 |9 |31 | | |98 | |||||
| rowspan="2" |2019
|20 |7 | | | |28 | |||||
| rowspan="3" |{{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos
|10 |3 | | | |12 | |||||
| 2020
|16 |3 | | | |12 | |||||
| 2021
|11 |5 | | |1 |21 | |||||
| class="sortbottom"
! colspan="2" | Career totals ! 235 ! 68 ! 38 ! 71.4 ! 2 ! 350 |
Personal life
Phillip Lui, Robert's father, played for Queensland A in the late 1980s.
Former Cowboys' teammate and good friend Ray Thompson is godfather to Lui's son.{{cite news|author=Antony Stewart|work=Townsville Bulletin|title=Thompson to outwork his rivals for No. 6|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/11/24/285831_sport.html|access-date=27 January 2013|date=24 November 2011}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.therhinos.co.uk/player/thomas-lui/ Leeds Rhinos profile]
- [https://www.salfordreddevils.net/team/robert-lui/ Salford Red Devils profile]
- [http://www.cowboys.com.au/team/profiles/robert-lui.html North Queensland Cowboys profile]
- [https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/142/rob%3Cbr-%3Elui SL profile]
- [http://www.reddevilsrugby.co.uk/player/rob-lui/ Salford Red Devils interview]
{{North Queensland Cowboy 2014 Auckland Nines Champions}}
{{Leeds Rhinos - 2020 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{2009 National Youth Competition Team of the Year}}
{{Torres Strait|state=autocollapse}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lui, Robert}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England
Category:Indigenous Australian rugby league players
Category:21st-century Indigenous Australian people
Category:North Queensland Cowboys players
Category:Northern Pride RLFC players
Category:People educated at Keebra Park State High School
Category:People educated at Kirwan State High School
Category:Rugby league five-eighths
Category:Rugby league halfbacks
Category:Rugby league players from Townsville
Category:Salford Red Devils players
Category:Torres Strait Islanders