Luke targets new contract on back of Corvo's tough love
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Off-contract Warriors hooker Issac Luke has declared he wants to extend his career at the club as he paid tribute to the tough love head trainer Alex Corvo had given him in 2018.
The 31-year-old Kiwi international has enjoyed his best season yet in Warriors colours since joining the club in 2016 and was on fire in the 26-6 win over the Brisbane Broncos last Sunday.
After the victory Luke said he was determined to win a new deal on the back of his form while continuing to mentor hookers at the club such as Jazz Tevaga, Sam Cook and Karl Lawton.
"I have spoken to Mooks (Stephen Kearney) about it. I want to stay," Luke said.
"Obviously it is about what is best for the club and they have a lot of depth in my area at the moment.
"At the moment I am just trying to help those boys grow. I have to let my footy do the talking. I want a contract."
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Warriors CEO Cameron George told NRL.com that football manager Brian Smith and recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan were in discussions with Luke's management over a new deal.
George said Luke had put himself in a strong position to get the extension he craved.
"Issac has been outstanding and we couldn't be happier with the way he is playing," he said.
"He has been contributing to the overall performance of the organisation and that is something that doesn't go unnoticed and something that our football guys are well aware of.
"We want quality people and quality players at our club and Issac is demonstrating those attributes week-in and week-out. He would be a great asset to us next year without doubt."
The Warriors rake said he had thrived under coach Stephen Kearney and his assistants Tony Iro and Andrew McFadden
He said it was the direction the club was heading in that made him want to stay on and be a part of it. He pointed to the experienced players that joined the club in the pre-season - which includes Blake Green, Adam Blair and Tohu Harris - as being keys, while singling out Corvo as the man behind his own energetic displays.
"Then obviously there is what Alex Corvo brings with his tough mentality," Luke said.
"He wanted me to trim down and he doesn't let anything go past.
"Corvo has helped me with the fitness part of it, and when you are fit you are thinking a lot clearer and everything is not cloudy."
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Corvo told NRL.com Luke had done the hard yards himself to lift his game.
"It is just commitment from Bully (Luke) to be honest. He is the one who has made the effort and I have just pointed him in the right direction so it is a credit to him," he said.
"The key has been his application, his enthusiasm and the extras he has done in all areas of his preparation whether that be his recovery or his diet."
Luke said his form was "definitely up there" with some of the best of his career as he targets leading the Warriors deep into finals football."
"Collectively as a club the boys are enjoying our footy, and when we do enjoy our footy everybody showcases their best," he said.
"We want to be there in September footy. Even training in September awesome. The boys haven't been able to achieve that since 2011 but that is definitely where the club is heading towards."
