Club great Micheal Luck has just edged out legendary hard man Kevin Campion for the loose forward position in the Vodafone Warriors’ People's Choice 20th Anniversary Team.
Luck (Vodafone Warrior #126) and Campion (#86) stood out in their time with the club as two of the ultimate warriors, both regularly left bloodied and stitched up after battle.
Luck’s 150 appearances across seven seasons from 2006-2012 is still the most for the Vodafone Warriors by an Australian player.
While Campion’s career comprised just 44 appearances in 2001 and 2002 he left an indelible mark.
It was anticipated the two Queenslanders would dominate voting for the No 13 jersey in the 20th anniversary team – and they certainly did. Combined they accounted for more than 80 per cent of all votes cast with Luck snaring 41 per cent and Campion 40 per cent.
Luck, the club’s player of the year in 2009, played all 10 of the Vodafone Warriors’ finals matches in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 including the grand final in 2011. He was consistently among the NRL’s leading tacklers, including a then-record 74 tackles in a match against the Melbourne Storm in 2009.
Campion helped the Vodafone Warriors qualify for the NRL finals for the first time in 2001 only to miss the play-off against Parramatta. He then featured in all three finals matches in 2002 including the club’s first grand final appearance.
Of the other contenders Logan Swann, Monty Betham and Wairangi Koopu were the next best but they were a long way back. The others in contention were Tony Tuimavave, Jason Death and Sione Faumuina.
The selection of Luck follows the choice of Brent Webb as the top fullback while P J Marsh was chosen at hooker, Simon Mannering and Ali Lauitiiti in the second row, Steve Price and Ben Matulino as the props, Clinton Toopi and Brent Tate as the centres and Manu Vatuvei and Francis Meli on the wings.
Next up will be the vote to find the halves.
The choices in order so far have been:
HOOKER | P J MARSH
P J Marsh (#96) | 2002-2003, 35 games, 5 tries, 12 goals, 1 field goal
FULLBACK | BRENT WEBB
Brent Webb (#97) | 2002-2006, 103 games, 39 tries, 27 goals
SECOND ROWERS | SIMON MANNERING AND ALI LAUTIITI
Ali Lauitiiti (#55) | 1998-2004, 115 games, 33 tries
Simon Mannering (#125) | 2005-2015, 227 games, 52 tries
PROPS | STEVE PRICE AND BEN MATULINO
Steve Price (#121) | 2005-2009, 91 games, 13 tries
Ben Matulino (#142) | 2008-2015, 168 games, 15 tries
CENTRES | CLINTON TOOPI AND BRENT TATE
Clinton Toopi (#66) | 1999-2006, 129 games, 57 tries
Brent Tate (#137) | 2008-2010, 48 games, 12 tries
WINGS | MANU VATUVEI AND FRANCIS MELI
Manu Vatuvei (#115) | 2004-2015, 209 games, 146 tries
Francis Meli (#65) | 1999-2005, 110 games, 60 tries
LOOSE FORWARD | MICHEAL LUCK
Micheal Luck (#126) | 2006-2012, 150 games, 7 tries
