Luke Burt
Encyclopedia
Luke Kevin Burt is an Australian professional rugby league
player for the Parramatta Eels
in the National Rugby League
(NRL) competition. He primarily plays at wing, although he has had successful stints at fullback.
Burt went on to play junior football for the Valentine Red Devils before being called up to the Eels in 1999.
, Brett Hodgson
and Wade McKinnon
, all of whom have earned at least one representative jumper at fullback. As an outside back, he provided many tries down either the left or right flank for Parramatta. With the departure of McKinnon at the end of 2006 to the Warriors
, Burt was installed as the regular fullback.
In 2007 Burt continued his great form at fullback and was been particularly impressive with his goalkicking, kicking at just under 90% success rates for the season. His form put him at the top of the NRL's point scoring list for much of the 2007 season. Unfortunately Burt dislocated his kneecap against the Newcastle Knights
in Round 17 and missed the remainder of the NRL season. At the time of his injury, Burt was so far ahead on the point scoring list that it took Hazem El Masri
(second highest point scorer after Burt) until Round 22 to catch his total of 154 points for the season.
In the middle of the 2009 season season, Burt moved to the wing to let Jarryd Hayne
move to his preferred fullback position. This move proved to be a masterstroke as Jarryd Hayne collected a number of awards including Dally M player of the year and fullback of the year and lead Parramatta to a Grand Final
against the Melbourne Storm. Unfortunately Burt was unsuccessful in his second Grand Final appearance going down to Melbourne. Burt, Cayless and Hindmarsh were the only players to have played a Grand Final for Parramatta in the 2009 team. Melbourne was then found to have cheated the salary cap in 2010 but Parramatta was not given the 2009 premiership
In Round 4 of the 2011 season
against the North Queensland Cowboys
Burt broke Brett Kenny
's record of most tries for Parramatta with 111. As of the end of Parramatta's 2011 season, Luke Burt has scored 117 tries for the Eels.
In 2011 Burt was moved back to fullback due to Jarryd Hayne going into the position of 5/8. With South Sydney
halfback Chris Sandow
joining the Eels in 2012
, Eels coach Stephen Kearney
has announced his intention to move Hayne back to his preferred fullback spot with Burt moving back onto the wing.
Debuting at the age of 17 years and 9 months, Burt became the youngest player to play first-grade for the Eels. At the time he was regarded as being the fastest player at the Parramatta club, recording sprint times club insiders said they hadn't seen since the days of Eric Grothe Sr. in the early 1980s.
In round 22 of the regular 2009 NRL season Burt scored a 24 point haul which helped the Pirtek Parramatta Eels secure their fourth straight Telstra Premiership victory, defeating the Newcastle Knights 40–8 at Parramatta Stadium in front of a crowd of 17,669. Luke bagged a double including one disallowed try along with scoring 8 goals from 8 attempts which concluded his best performance of the year.
Burt scored his 100th first grade try for the Eels in the 2009 Preliminary Final against the Bulldogs (Only the second ever Parramatta player to do so behind Brett Kenny
).
After some great form in early 2010
Luke was selected to play for the Country Origin side where he scored a try and kicked 6 goals from 6 attempts. In the same season, he became the third player to score 100 tries and 500 goals (after Ryan Girdler
and Hazem El Masri
)
In 2011, playing against the Cowboys at Parramatta Stadium, Luke Burt equalled then passed Brett Kenny's all time try scoring record for Parramatta (110) with 2 tries, the second try coming with 2 minutes remaining on the clock set up a kick from the touchline to win the match. Luke stepped up and converted his record-breaking try to win the match.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player for the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL) competition. He primarily plays at wing, although he has had successful stints at fullback.
Early life
While attending Whitebridge High School, Burt played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1998.Burt went on to play junior football for the Valentine Red Devils before being called up to the Eels in 1999.
NRL career
Burt made his first-grade debuting in 1998, at the age of 17. Although a very capable fullback, Burt played most of his rugby as a wing or center since the Eels backs of the era included Clinton SchifcofskeClinton Schifcofske
Clinton Schifcofske is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Crusaders in the European Super League. He has previously played for Irish rugby union club Ulster in the Magners League competition and also he spent a year with Queensland Reds in the Super 14...
, Brett Hodgson
Brett Hodgson
Brett Hodgson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Super League...
and Wade McKinnon
Wade McKinnon
Wade McKinnon is an Australian rugby league player who currently plays for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League. His position of preference is at fullback.-Early years:...
, all of whom have earned at least one representative jumper at fullback. As an outside back, he provided many tries down either the left or right flank for Parramatta. With the departure of McKinnon at the end of 2006 to the Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
, Burt was installed as the regular fullback.
In 2007 Burt continued his great form at fullback and was been particularly impressive with his goalkicking, kicking at just under 90% success rates for the season. His form put him at the top of the NRL's point scoring list for much of the 2007 season. Unfortunately Burt dislocated his kneecap against the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in Round 17 and missed the remainder of the NRL season. At the time of his injury, Burt was so far ahead on the point scoring list that it took Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri is a Lebanese-Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australia and Lebanon international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his entire club football career with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with...
(second highest point scorer after Burt) until Round 22 to catch his total of 154 points for the season.
In the middle of the 2009 season season, Burt moved to the wing to let Jarryd Hayne
Jarryd Hayne
Jarryd Lee Hayne is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian, Fiji international representative winger and fullback, he has played his entire NRL career to date with Parramatta, with whom he got to the...
move to his preferred fullback position. This move proved to be a masterstroke as Jarryd Hayne collected a number of awards including Dally M player of the year and fullback of the year and lead Parramatta to a Grand Final
2009 NRL Grand Final
The 2009 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league football game played on 4 October 2009 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. It was the 12th annual championship game of the National Rugby League staged to decide the premiers of the 2009 NRL season....
against the Melbourne Storm. Unfortunately Burt was unsuccessful in his second Grand Final appearance going down to Melbourne. Burt, Cayless and Hindmarsh were the only players to have played a Grand Final for Parramatta in the 2009 team. Melbourne was then found to have cheated the salary cap in 2010 but Parramatta was not given the 2009 premiership
In Round 4 of the 2011 season
2011 NRL season
The 2011 NRL season was the 105th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth run by the National Rugby League. The NRL's main championship, called the 2011 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra, was contested by sixteen teams for the...
against the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
Burt broke Brett Kenny
Brett Kenny
Brett Kenny is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He was a five-eighth for the Australian national team, the New South Wales Blues representative side and the Parramatta Eels. He played in 17 Tests, made 17 State of Origin appearances and won 4...
's record of most tries for Parramatta with 111. As of the end of Parramatta's 2011 season, Luke Burt has scored 117 tries for the Eels.
In 2011 Burt was moved back to fullback due to Jarryd Hayne going into the position of 5/8. With South Sydney
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
halfback Chris Sandow
Chris Sandow
Chris Sandow is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league player who previously played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League competition but from the 2012 NRL season, Sandow will play for the Parramatta Eels...
joining the Eels in 2012
2012 NRL season
The 2012 NRL season will be the 106th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fifteenth run by the National Rugby League. The NRL will be contested by sixteen teams for the sixth consecutive year...
, Eels coach Stephen Kearney
Stephen Kearney
Stephen Peter Kearney, ONZM is a professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Parramatta Eels in the NRL as well as the New Zealand national team...
has announced his intention to move Hayne back to his preferred fullback spot with Burt moving back onto the wing.
Records and accomplishments
In a game against Canberra in 2005, Burt scored 28 points (3 tries and 8 goals). That point total matched his previous best and tied the club record for most points in a match.Debuting at the age of 17 years and 9 months, Burt became the youngest player to play first-grade for the Eels. At the time he was regarded as being the fastest player at the Parramatta club, recording sprint times club insiders said they hadn't seen since the days of Eric Grothe Sr. in the early 1980s.
In round 22 of the regular 2009 NRL season Burt scored a 24 point haul which helped the Pirtek Parramatta Eels secure their fourth straight Telstra Premiership victory, defeating the Newcastle Knights 40–8 at Parramatta Stadium in front of a crowd of 17,669. Luke bagged a double including one disallowed try along with scoring 8 goals from 8 attempts which concluded his best performance of the year.
Burt scored his 100th first grade try for the Eels in the 2009 Preliminary Final against the Bulldogs (Only the second ever Parramatta player to do so behind Brett Kenny
Brett Kenny
Brett Kenny is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He was a five-eighth for the Australian national team, the New South Wales Blues representative side and the Parramatta Eels. He played in 17 Tests, made 17 State of Origin appearances and won 4...
).
After some great form in early 2010
2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
Luke was selected to play for the Country Origin side where he scored a try and kicked 6 goals from 6 attempts. In the same season, he became the third player to score 100 tries and 500 goals (after Ryan Girdler
Ryan Girdler
Ryan Girdler is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played centre and was a successful goal-kicker. Thanks to his on-field skills and good looks he became a popular figure in rugby league.-Rugby league career:Girdler first played in the NSWRL for the Illawarra...
and Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri is a Lebanese-Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australia and Lebanon international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his entire club football career with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with...
)
In 2011, playing against the Cowboys at Parramatta Stadium, Luke Burt equalled then passed Brett Kenny's all time try scoring record for Parramatta (110) with 2 tries, the second try coming with 2 minutes remaining on the clock set up a kick from the touchline to win the match. Luke stepped up and converted his record-breaking try to win the match.