Luke Priddis

Luke Priddis
Luke Priddis
Born	April 14, 1977 (age 49); Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Professional rugby league footballer (retired)
Years active	1997–2010
Known for	Playing for Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers, St. George Illawarra Dragons; Australian national team; New South Wales State of Origin team

Luke Priddis (born 14 April 1977) is a retired Australian professional rugby league player. He represented both the Australian national side and the New South Wales team in the State of Origin. Throughout his career in the National Rugby League, Priddis played for the Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos, where he secured the 2000 NRL Premiership, the Penrith Panthers, with whom he claimed the 2003 NRL Premiership and was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal, and lastly the St. George Illawarra Dragons, winning the 2010 NRL Premiership.

Playing career

Originating as a junior with the Woden Valley Rams, Priddis commenced his professional journey at the Canberra Raiders, where he was honored as the club's rookie of the year during his debut season. He went on to represent New South Wales in the Super League Tri-series and competed for Australia in the post-season Trans-Tasman Super League test match. Subsequently, Priddis transferred to the Brisbane Broncos, featuring at hooker in their triumph over the Sydney Roosters in the 2000 NRL grand final. Following this success, he participated in the 2001 World Club Challenge against St Helens R.F.C., playing as hooker in Brisbane's defeat.

During his tenure with the Penrith Panthers, Priddis earned the prestigious Clive Churchill Medal in the 2003 NRL grand final, contributing to an 18-6 win against the Roosters. In that match, he scored a try, set up two tries for winger Luke Rooney, and completed 47 tackles. This achievement distinguished him as the sole Panther to have won two Grand Finals, having previously been part of Brisbane's 2000 premiership-winning side. Notably, no hooker had received the Clive Churchill Medal since its establishment in 1986 until Priddis’s accolade; only one other hooker (Shaun Berrigan) has earned it since, in 2006. As reigning premiers, Penrith faced off against Bradford Bulls in the 2004 World Club Challenge, where Priddis scored Penrith’s only try in a 22-4 defeat.

In 2009, Priddis reunited with coach Wayne Bennett at the Dragons. Although Bennett recommended retirement following that season, Priddis reached a milestone of 300 NRL appearances in 2010. He assumed a pivotal role after replacing Nathan Fien, who was sidelined due to injury; however, he did not feature in the Dragons’ victorious 2010 NRL Grand Final squad. Missing this opportunity prevented him from joining an exclusive group of players who have won three Grand Finals with three separate clubs—a distinction last held by Glenn Lazarus. Priddis concluded his professional playing career at the end of 2010.

Representative career

Priddis made his international debut for Australia during the 1997 Super League test series and appeared once more for Australia in the 2005 ANZAC Test.

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