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Lewis earns special praise from Gould
2 June 2004
Source: www.nrl.com.au
http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?id=8841
Six months after the darkest day of his career, rising Penrith star Luke Lewis came in for special praise from NSW State of Origin coach Phil Gould today.
Lewis was left a shattered young man after being controversially overlooked for the third Test of Australia's tour of Great Britain last November.
Then Australian coach Chris Anderson opted to draft 34-year-old Darren Smith, a retired international, into his 17-man Kangaroos line-up rather than blood rookie tourist Luke Lewis.
Anderson's decision rocked Lewis. But his non-selection in the Test team must now feel a world away.
The 21-year-old's brilliant debut in the Blues' 9-8 win in the series opener last Wednesday night had Gould today labelling Lewis an Origin player for virtual life.
"Luke Lewis, I've had my finger on him for a long time," Gould said.
"I've seen him as a kid play. We put him our development squad last year as part of the 33-man squad.
"Twelve months down the track, he was given his chance in Origin and I said to him before the game, `some kids never go back, they prove it in game one'. And I don't think that kid will ever go back (to being merely a first grade player).
"I think he'll be an Origin player for a long time."
Gould pinpointed Lewis, fellow Penrith winger Luke Rooney and St George Illawarra fullback Ben Hornby - who were all debuting for NSW - as the standouts in Origin I.
"The back three, there's no place to hide for them," the Blues coach said.
"We don't counter for fullbacks and wingers to get hurt and we need them to play the full 80 minutes.
"Our three boys at the back were youngsters and they were rookies and every one of them, I guess, in some people's eyes was a bit of a shock selection.
"But I thought under pressure, particularly on a wet night like that, they were outstanding."
.
Lewis earns special praise from Gould
2 June 2004
Source: www.nrl.com.au
http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?id=8841
Six months after the darkest day of his career, rising Penrith star Luke Lewis came in for special praise from NSW State of Origin coach Phil Gould today.
Lewis was left a shattered young man after being controversially overlooked for the third Test of Australia's tour of Great Britain last November.
Then Australian coach Chris Anderson opted to draft 34-year-old Darren Smith, a retired international, into his 17-man Kangaroos line-up rather than blood rookie tourist Luke Lewis.
Anderson's decision rocked Lewis. But his non-selection in the Test team must now feel a world away.
The 21-year-old's brilliant debut in the Blues' 9-8 win in the series opener last Wednesday night had Gould today labelling Lewis an Origin player for virtual life.
"Luke Lewis, I've had my finger on him for a long time," Gould said.
"I've seen him as a kid play. We put him our development squad last year as part of the 33-man squad.
"Twelve months down the track, he was given his chance in Origin and I said to him before the game, `some kids never go back, they prove it in game one'. And I don't think that kid will ever go back (to being merely a first grade player).
"I think he'll be an Origin player for a long time."
Gould pinpointed Lewis, fellow Penrith winger Luke Rooney and St George Illawarra fullback Ben Hornby - who were all debuting for NSW - as the standouts in Origin I.
"The back three, there's no place to hide for them," the Blues coach said.
"We don't counter for fullbacks and wingers to get hurt and we need them to play the full 80 minutes.
"Our three boys at the back were youngsters and they were rookies and every one of them, I guess, in some people's eyes was a bit of a shock selection.
"But I thought under pressure, particularly on a wet night like that, they were outstanding."
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True Lewis.
