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| Born | (1977-04-14)14 April 1977 (age 47) Dubbo,New South Wales,Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (14 st 9 lb; 205 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Hooker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Luke Priddis (born 14 April 1977) is an Australian former professionalrugby league footballer. AnAustralian international andNew South WalesState of Origin representativehooker, he played club football in theNational Rugby League for theCanberra Raiders,Brisbane Broncos (with whom he won the2000 NRL Premiership) andPenrith Panthers (with whom he won the2003 NRL Premiership andClive Churchill Medal) and, finally, theSt. George Illawarra Dragons with who he won the2010 NRL Premiership.
AWoden Valley Rams junior, Priddis started his career with theCanberra Raiders, winning the club's rookie of the year award in his debut season. He was selected to represent New South Wales in theSuper League Tri-series and alsoAustralia in the post-season Trans-Tasman Super Leaguetest match. He later moved to theBrisbane Broncos and played athooker in the club's2000 NRL grand final victory over theSydney Roosters. Having won the2000 NRL Premiership, the Broncos traveled to England to play against 2000'sSuper League V Champions,St Helens R.F.C. for the2001 World Club Challenge, with Priddis playing at hooker in Brisbane's loss.
Moving to thePenrith Panthers, in the2003 NRL grand final, Priddis won theClive Churchill Medal in the 18-6 victory over theSydney Roosters. He scored one try and set up both other tries for wingerLuke Rooney, whilst making 47 tackles. After this match he became the only Panther to have played in two successful Grand Finals, having won with Brisbane in 2000. No hooker had previously won the Clive Churchill Medal since it was instigated in 1986, though one other (Shaun Berrigan, in2006) has won it since. As 2003 NRL premiers, the Panthers travelled to England to faceSuper League VIII champions, theBradford Bulls in the2004 World Club Challenge. Priddis played athooker and scored Penrith's sole try in their 22-4 loss.
In 2009, Priddis was re-united with his former coach at the Broncos,Wayne Bennett, after they both transferred to the Dragons.
Despite being advised by Dragons coach Wayne Bennett to retire at the end of the 2009 season, Priddis went on to make his 300th NRL appearance in 2010.[2] While Priddis played a very important role in the team's success after taking over fromNathan Fien, who suffered a broken leg in Round 1 which kept him out most of the season, he did not play in the2010 NRL Grand Final. By not playing in the Dragons' victorious Grand Final squad, he missed a golden opportunity to have won three Grand Finals at three clubs, a feat not achieved sinceGlenn Lazarus did so with the Broncos,Canberra Raiders andMelbourne Storm. Priddis retired at the end of the 2010 NRL season.
Priddis played his first cap forAustralia in the 1997 super league test series.Priddis made his only appearance for Australia in the2005 ANZAC Test.[3]
| Preceded by | Clive Churchill Medallist 2003 | Succeeded by |