Luke Lewis re-signs with Sharks

STAFF WRITERS | July 6, 2017 - 4:55pm

In some exciting news for the Sharks experienced back-rower Luke Lewis has agreed to terms on a new one-year deal with the club for the 2018 season.

Currently in his fifth season at the Cronulla club and his 17th overall in the NRL, Lewis will play his 299th top grade match when the Sharks play the Titans in round 19.

Lewis has been in outstanding form for the Sharks in 2017, playing 14 of 16 matches while scoring four tries, two of those spectacular long-range efforts in his team’s last two games.

Pleased to have his future sorted for another season, Lewis was not only looking forward to the remainder of this year and to the Sharks continuing to mount a strong title defence, but also to what lay ahead in 2018.
“It’s good to know I’ll get to wear the blue, black and white jersey for another 12 months. I’m very excited about the next two years,” Lewis said.

“The body feels good, I’m enjoying my footy at the moment, which is the most important thing and I enjoy the boys we’ve got here. The nucleus of the group is here again next year as well, which made my decision very easy,” he added.

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has repeatedly said he doesn’t pick teams based on age, with Lewis one of the experienced campaigners amongst his squad who continues to earn a spot each week due to his high standard of play.

“Nobody looks at birth certificates or passports before they run out onto the field and while obviously one of the older players in our club Luke has also been one of our best performed again this year,” Flanagan said. “Add to that the experience he brings to the group, the example he sets for the young players in the way he trains, he hardly ever misses a training session and I’ve got no doubt he will be an asset to our team again next season.”

The signing stretches his career into an 18th season, with Lewis debuting in the NRL as an outside back while playing for the Panthers in 2001.

From there he developed from being one of the leading wingers in the game to becoming a quality backrower, along the way representing Australia in 16 Tests and NSW in 17 State of Origin matches.

The Clive Churchill Medallist, awarded to the best player on the field in the Sharks 2016 Grand Final triumph, Lewis has played 90 NRL games for Cronulla since joining the club in 2013.