For their 20th year in the Super League, the Catalan Dragons hit hard. Luke Keary, coming straight from Australia, becomes the new number 6 of this team. The former iconic Sydney Roosters player with whom he won three NRLs is ready to embark on this new challenge.
It is clear that Luke Keary caused a surprise by joining the Dracs. After announcing his retirement from the NRL (National Rugby League) in April 2024, the 32-year-old former Roosters is finally back in midfield. ” In the NRL I didn't want to play for other clubs. But I hadn't really thought about playing abroad.”he declared in reaction to this change of direction. This iconic Sydney Roosters player is preceded with a well-deserved reputation. The Irish-Australian has won three NRL finals as well as three World Club Challenges during his career and has 47 tries in 221 NRL matches.
Installed with his family in Bompas for a few months, the custodian of the Dracs game adapts perfectly to the climate Mediterranean. “A small community ” where his little boys aged 1, 3 and 5 rub shoulders with the children of Sam Tomkins and the daughters of Tommy Makinson, on the school benches.
This unprecedented challenge emerged as a natural choice for this exceptional recruit, the most prestigious of the six. In addition, to continue playing, this proposal is an opportunity to explore new horizons. “Everyone who has played here has given me nothing but praise for this club. So I saw this opportunity as a good thing for me and my loved ones.”reveals the new number 6 blood and gold. Even if the two entities apparently do not have much in common, Australians and Catalans are actually more related than they think. Whether on the player side, with Mitchell Pearce, Sam Moa and James Maloney, or on the staff side, with Trent Robinson, Many Roosters passed through Catalan lands during their careers. Luke's former coach Keary, also contributed to his coming to France. “I talked a lot with Robbo (Robinson) on this subject. He really loves this club, this country and I know he always watches the matcheses with attention, even in Australia “asserts Bompassencq again.
It's natural for him, he's a champion
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For this season, the player is not arriving alone, he is accompanied by the former Roosters physical trainer. As soon as he arrived, Ryan Whitley intensified training in order to best prepare for the Super League. Reaching and winning the final of this competition remains the objective supreme of these formidable rugby player and Keary, intends to contribute to this. ” Luke is a very professional person, he can improve the club and its players. It’s natural for him, he’s a champion.”confides the new head of the performance regarding the latter. But the adaptation was less complicated than expected. The coach, Steve Mcnamara has actually kept some traces of his time in the land of the kangaroos, particularly in the style of play. Despite certain differences, this overlap of strategies has allowed the leader of the collective to find his feet more easily. “ It's refreshing to have youngs teammates that I've never played with, to build these combinations and bond with themx “, he admits.
The start of a new chapter
To facilitate the inclusion of this new holder, the Catalan Dragons were able to give him a warm welcome. In addition, in this multicultural team, French courses are available to support them. “II don't understand every conversation, but they help me a lot. We come from all over the world and I really enjoy building relationships with these boys“, he admits.
But for the start of this new adventure far from his family and in particular his mother, the Australian allows himself some liberties. To hell with the white helmet he wore in the NRL this season! “I don't think I'll wear one this year. To be honest it was for my mom, but now I can do what I want”, affirms the new Catalan.
All eyes are now on him. To see if this first choice recruit will be able to guide the Dracs to new heights for the club's 20th season in the Super League.
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