Stuart Earns his Rep Stripes
04 May 2009
Rabbitohs stalwart Luke Stuart has pulled on his first representative jersey today when he entered the City Origin camp in the lead up to Friday night’s clash with Country Origin at Wade Park in Orange.
Stuart looked the goods in the yellow jersey with the blue V’s at today’s media session, saying he thought representative football was beyond his reach.
"A rep jersey is probably something I never thought I'd achieve and I never really knew if I was good enough," Stuart said at the City media session today.
"So on Friday night, I guess I'll find out.”
Stuart’s had his phone turned off and was cooking dinner for his young family when an unsuspecting call came to his house phone.
"It was a big surprise to get the phone call from my mum,” Stuart explained.
"I was cooking a barbecue, getting the dinner ready for the kids and I had my phone off.
"Being a Sunday night, it was pretty quiet, I was just looking forward to watching television and she called ... it was a pretty nice way to find out."
Stuart, who won last year’s George Piggins Medal at the Rabbitohs and is in his eighth season with the foundation club, says he does not crave publicity and the attention it brings.
"The way I play, it's a pretty simple game, so it doesn't attract a real lot of attention," he said.
"That sort of suits the person I am.
"I've been happy to play my football and sort of walk away and leave the game on the weekends and live my life because I've got a young family now."
Reports today suggest that Stuart is the oldest player to be making his representative debut, aged at 32 years of age.
On behalf of all Rabbitohs Members, Corporate Partners and supporters, we wish ‘Baz’ the best of luck in Friday night’s City vs Country match.