George Luke was an English footballer who played as a left winger for Newcastle United, Hartlepool United, and Darlington.
Issac Luke is a former professional rugby league footballer from New Zealand. He had previously participated in the National Rugby League South Sydney Rabbitohs, New Zealand Warriors, St. George Illawarra Dragons, and Brisbane Broncos.
Before making his professional debut, Luke represented Canterbury-Bankstown in the Jersey Flegg Cup alongside fellow New Zealander and future Kiwis teammate Sonny Bill Williams.
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Luke made his NRL debut for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in round 12 of the 2007 NRL season, coming off the bench against the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park Stadium.
He had a solid start to the 2008 season, but a broken bone in his hand in a round three loss to the Penrith Panthers sidelined him for four weeks.
The athlete returned in round 7 against the Brisbane Broncos and provided a much-needed spark to the team, but they fell short, losing 32 – 18.
Who Was George Luke? Did Issac Luke Father Die After Cyclone Gabrielle slip?
The rugby league community in Taranaki is grieving the passing of local club stalwart George Luke, the Father of former New Zealand star Issac Luke who died after collapsing on the Taihape-Napier road during Cyclone Gabrielle earlier this week.
He was an English footballer who played as a left winger for Newcastle United, Hartlepool United, and Darlington in the 1950s and early 1960s.
On Monday night, Luke and his partner Mau Goodman drove back to Hastings from Rotorua when the Napier-Taupo road was closed due to bad weather.
When the family did not hear from them, a desperate search was launched with social media appeals.
They were eventually located yesterday, evacuated by helicopter separately, and flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital in Hastings, where Luke died.
George Luke died due to a tragic accident in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. His untimely death was caused by a slip on the road caused by the storm, and his family and the rugby league community are in mourning.
There isn’t much else known about George Luke, but his death has drawn attention to his family, including his son Issac Luke, who had a thriving rugby league career.
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George Luke – Death And Obituary
George Luke would be the disaster’s ninth victim. The official death toll from the disaster is seven.
Still, Gabrielle has reportedly claimed an eighth victim after a 59-year-old woman was discovered dead in the roof cavity of her cottage in Puketapu, west of Napier, according to Stuff.
Yesterday, the body of a man in his 70s was discovered in Waiohiki, Hawke’s Bay.
Thousands of Hawke’s Bay residents could have yet to be contacted by emergency services.
Still, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has promised that as many resources as possible will be available to aid in the cyclone response.
Hipkins is in Hawke’s Bay today, surveying the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. Police are concerned about some of the 3500 people who are still uncontactable.
Luke was referred to as their “ttara tree” by the Hawera Hawks on social media.
“You were always available to help us,” they wrote. “A Father, a brother, a koro, an uncle, a mentor, and a friend. We will miss you terribly.”
