League: Luck looking forward to tussle with Tate

Micheal Luck
Micheal Luck
Lock Micheal Luck will look forward to welcoming back an old mate when the New Zealand Warriors and fellow National Rugby League finals-bound North Queensland do battle in Auckland on Saturday night.

Among the opposition will be centre Brent Tate, making his first trip back to Mount Smart Stadium since leaving the Warriors last season after a three-year stint.

After shifting back across the Tasman, Tate suffered his third serious knee injury of his career in the Kangaroos' Four Nations final defeat to the Kiwis in Brisbane last November.

He finally made his debut for the Cowboys in mid-July.

"He's a good mate of mine and you always love to play against your mates, and especially challenging yourself against one of the best centres in the game," Luck said today.

"He looks to come through the middle with a few dummy-half runs, so I'll see if I can get hold of him."

The Cowboys are fifth on the table heading into the final round.

They are edged out of the top four by the Wests Tigers on points difference, so will still fancy their chances of getting home advantage in the first week of the playoffs.

The Warriors, back in seventh spot, two points behind the Tigers and Cowboys, have a tougher road to get a home qualifying final.

They will need to beat the Cowboys, and then hope a couple of upsets come their way.

Luck was philosophical about the Warriors' letting slip the chance to consolidate fourth spot after going down 26-22 to St George Illawarra last Sunday.

"We're in a similar situation where we were a few years ago, where if you win in the first week you come back home anyway," he said.

"All we have to do now is fix up what we're doing and play well this week."

In 2008, the Warriors travelled to Melbourne in the first round of playoffs and shocked the then minor premiers.

The 18-14 victory secured a home semifinal against Sydney Roosters, which they also won, before falling to Manly in a preliminary final.

North Queensland are backing up from their win over Cronulla, which ended a three-match losing streak.

Despite the Cowboys' up-and down results over the past month, Luck had plenty of respect for his former club, citing them as "a dangerous side".

He pointed to a big pack pack led by prop Matthew Scott and the twin dummy-half threats of Aaron Payne and James Segeyaro.

"Then there's Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen, who are as good as any halfback and fullback in the game," he said.

"So it will be a test for us all over the park. I suppose it will start with us in the middle. We have to get on of top of their pack to give our outside guys a chance."

 

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