The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys have agreed to a five-year contract extension with homegrown star second-rower Heilum Luki, running through the end of the 2029 season.
A proud Far North Queensland product, Luki played his junior rugby league for Cairns Brothers before joining the Cowboys Cairns Academy as a 15-year-old in 2016.
After starring for the Northern Pride junior sides, Luki joined the Cowboys NRL squad in 2021 and would make his NRL debut in Round 11 of the same season, scoring a memorable try in a victory over the Newcastle Knights.
The now 23-year-old has since emerged as one of the most exciting second row prospects in the NRL, despite battling injury over recent seasons.
Luki has appeared in 40 NRL games and made his international debut for Samoa at the end of the 2023 season, playing in Tests against Australia and New Zealand.
Luki joins fellow Cairns product Jeremiah Nanai in agreeing to long-term deals with the Cowboys, with the supremely talented duo set to form a lethal second row combination for the foreseeable future.
“We are pleased and proud to be able to confirm the re-signing of Heilum to a long-term extension,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said.
“Heilum joins Tom Dearden as players who are committed to our Club for the longest duration, which as two North Queensland products we are thrilled about.
“Heilum came through our Cairns Academy and has already had to overcome numerous hurdles in his young career and has come back bigger and stronger on every occasion. We believe he’s only just scratched the surface of his potential and are delighted we will have the opportunity to have him grow in a Cowboys jersey into the player and leader we know he will be.
“He epitomises everything we value as a club – he works hard at training, he’s prepared to do the tough stuff on the field and on top of that he is one of the elite backrow talents in the competition.”
Northern Pride CEO Garreth Smith expressed his club’s delight with Luki’s re-signing.
“It is exciting for our club and rugby league in Far North Queensland as a whole to have one of the top talents the area has produced in recent years staying in his home region with the Cowboys,” he said.
“Heilum came through the Pride system before graduating to the NRL with the Cowboys and we have been extremely proud watching his career progress.
“Today’s re-signing highlights the importance of the continued relationship between the Pride and Cowboys.”
