Luck lands role with Cowboys

Vodafone Warriors loose forward Micheal Luck, now only 12 days out from ending his playing career, has landed an off-field role with his original NRL club when he returns home to Townsville.

The North Queensland Cowboys have confirmed Luck, who played 76 games for North Queensland between 2001 and 2005 before moving to Auckland, will take over as football operations manager from Peter Jones.

Luck (30) turns out for the Vodafone Warriors against St George Illawarra in Wollongong on Saturday night and will play his last NRL match - his 150th for the club - on Sunday week against Canberra at Mount Smart Stadium.

Luck announced his retirement to his Vodafone Warriors team-mates on his 30th birthday on April 21 and is set to finish his career with a total of 226 matches; he will become the eighth player to represent the Vodafone Warriors in 150 NRL games.

The 2011 grand finalist had always planned to return to North Queensland and said the opportunity presented by the Cowboys was one he was very happy to take up.

“Even though I left the Cowboys seven years ago, they’ve always been a club close to my heart,” said Luck.

“North Queensland was where I made my NRL debut and I had five very enjoyable seasons there.

“My parents are in Townsville and are proud members of the Cowboys.

“It’s great to be coming back home and even better that I get the opportunity to again be part of the North Queensland club.”

Cowboys general manager – football Peter Parr said Luck had all the credentials to be a success in his new role.

“As well as the experience he has gained from playing more than 200 NRL matches and being with two clubs, Micheal has worked hard on making sure he is well placed for a career after playing footy,” said Parr.

“We’re delighted that he’s coming back to North Queensland and that he’ll take over from another well-respected former player at our club, Peter Jones, who has made a massive contribution to the Cowboys both on and off the field.”

Luck, who is an NRL Education Ambassador and former Vodafone Warriors Player of the Year and Clubman of the Year, was recently named in the 2012 NRL/RLPA Academic Team of the Year.

He has been studying for his Masters of Business at the Auckland University of Technology.

The back rower will join Paul Bowman, Glen Murphy and Clint Amos as former Cowboys now in off-field roles with the club.