Luke Walsh

Luke Walsh

Personal information
Full name	Luke Robert Walsh
Born	(1987-05-12) 12 May 1987 (age 37) Waratah, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in) [1]
Weight	85 kg (13 st 5 lb) [1]
Position	Halfback, Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2007–09 Newcastle Knights 41 7 0 2 6 2009–13 Penrith Panthers 107 24 154 10 358 2014–16 St Helens 64 15 198 10 466 2017–18 Catalans Dragons 32 2 97 4 206 Total 244 48 449 26 1036
Source: [2] [3]

Luke Robert Walsh (born 12 May 1987) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Newcastle Knights and the Penrith Panthers in the Australian National Rugby League and for St Helens and the Catalans Dragons in the Super League. He played as a halfback or five-eighth.

Playing career

Walsh came to prominence at Newcastle after the retirement of Andrew Johns and injuries to Jarrod Mullen during the 2007 season. ^[4] Although hampered by an ankle injury which kept him out of premier league, ^[5] Walsh was able to make his début at halfback in round 12 against the Sydney Roosters. Walsh underwent surgery on his ankle at the end of the season. ^[6]

In mid-March 2009, Walsh signed with the Penrith Panthers, which would enable him to play for the Panthers in the 2009 season. Wearing jumper number 14, Walsh scored the opening try against the Gold Coast Titans on his Penrith debut. Walsh was named the Players' Player of the Panthers for 2011. ^[7]

On 28 May 2013 Walsh agreed a deal with St. Helens. ^[8] After two seasons at St Helens Walsh joined fellow Super League side Catalans Dragons. A mainstay of the team in 2017, Walsh was injured in the game against the Hull Kingston Rovers in the third round of the 2018 season and on 24 April 2018 he announced his retirement from playing on medical advice. Walsh currently plays as a halfback for Central Charlestown Butcher Boys in the Newcastle Rugby League first grade competition. ^[9]

On 25 Dec 2024 it was reported that he had signed for Macquarie Scorpions, playing in the Newcastle Rugby League, for the 2025 season. ^{[10] [11]}

References

1. "Luke Walsh St Helens". superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
2. loverugbyleague
3. Luke Walsh at the Rugby League Project
4. "Running aground in the Hunter". AAP Sports News (Australia). 7 September 2007. Archived from the original (fee required) on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
5. Balym, Todd (2 June 2007). "Walsh ready to strut stuff". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
6. Dillon, Robert (20 December 2007). "Walsh cleared for training after weeks of agony". The Herald (Newcastle). Retrieved 3 January 2008.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
7. "Walsh named Player of the Year". Panthers Media. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
8. "Walsh to become Saint". St. Helens club news. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
9. "Luke Walsh: Catalans Dragons half-back retires after serious ankle injury". BBC Sport. 24 April 2017.
10. Chalk, Ethan Lee (25 December 2024). "Former Knights, Panthers halfback signs new deal to continue career". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
11. Drew Darbyshire (30 December 2024). "Former St Helens and NRL playmaker finds new club Down Under ahead of 2025". Love Rugby league.

10. https://www.facebook.com/newcastlerugbyleague/photos/a.383862408412247/2279822518816217/?type=3 26 May 2021

External links

• Catalans Dragons profile
• Saints Heritage Society profile
• Penrith Panthers profile
• SL profile