North Queensland back-rower Heilum Luki had an injury-ravaged start to his career but has now emerged as a potent game breaker on the left edge ahead of the NRL finals.
Luki is in red hot form as the Cowboys prepare to host an elimination final clash with Newcastle on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old had the best game of his 55-match career against Canterbury last week. He made four line breaks, scored a try, ran for 159m and made 19 tackles with none missed in a 44-6 win. It was a 10-out-of-10 display good judges knew Luki had in him.
Queensland coach Billy Slater identified Luki early as a long-term State of Origin player and he has been in Maroons extended squads.
Injuries since his NRL debut in mid-2021 have impacted his appearances for the Cowboys.
An ankle injury at the start of this year led to the Cairns junior missing six games but has since built his game into a career-defining display against the Bulldogs.
"Definitely. It gave me a lot of confidence and hopefully I can take that into the Knights game," Luki told AAP.
"It will be my first finals game and I am looking forward to it.
"For me to be at my best I just needed to play consecutive games to be honest.
"I did my ACL a couple of years ago, did a hamstring, fractured my face and then had ankle surgery.
"I've had a stop-start couple of years with injury. Now my body is healthy I have continuity each week and I feel a lot more comfortable with more games under my belt."
Luki, along with back-row partner Jeremiah Nanai, is now a key plank in North Queensland's short and long-term plans to be a premiership force.
In February the Cowboys released back-rower Luciano Leilua to St George Illawarra and then in April boom second-rower Kulikefu Finefuiaki agreed to join the Dolphins from 2025.
Luki was also a target for other clubs before signing a five-year extension through until the end of 2029. Nanai is on the Cowboys' books until the end of 2027.
"I did have a few calls from other clubs and there were some conversations but I feel at home in Townsville. It felt right to stay in North Queensland and stay a Cowboy," Luki said.
"It is unreal playing with Jeremiah. He is one of the most skilful players I have seen and he is so young. It will be great to get to play alongside him long-term."
Luki is aware that the opposition will be taking more notice of him now. Does he feel more like the hunted rather than the hunter going into this finals series?
"Maybe. That could be a good thing," he said.
"I want to go out and do my job and anything I can do to make my team's job easier I will do it.
"My defence is a big area I have worked on with Justin Morgan our assistant coach and it has paid off."
