Luke Burt

He certainly did not expect to win it, but is excited that he has – with retiring Eels winger Luke Burt taking out the 2012 Harvey Norman Women In League ‘Favourite Son’ Award.

The award, chosen by women who together, contribute more than $12 million to the game of NRL had Burt the winner – with the 31-year old accepting the award in front of 280 guests, including his wife Madelin and mother Kerrie – in an event held at the NRL’s annual Sydney lunch at the Deckhouse Restaurant in Woolwich.

“It is a real honour to receive this award on a day that is about acknowledging the women of Rugby League; women like my wife Madelin and my mum Kerrie, who are both here today and have played a significant role in my career,” Burt said.

“Events like today’s lunch and the Women in League Round are important fixtures on the Rugby League calendar, giving women across all levels of the game the recognition they deserve.”

Trish Crews, who is the ARLC’s General Manager of Community, Culture and Diversity, who has known Burt since he just a “skinny schoolboy” making his debut, said that she is proud of what Burt has achieved in the game.

“I am very proud of the man he has become off the field, as well as the outstanding player he has been on the field with over 250 games for the one club,” she said.

“Luke is a great role model for young players and someone the women of Rugby League admire and respect. It is great to see his wife Madelin and mum Kerrie here today, as events like today’s lunch are about paying tribute to women involved in the game at all levels, as well as announcing our Favourite Son.”

When accepting the award, you could see the humble nature of the man, and how much it meant to him, as Luke Burt choked up on stage upon receiving the award.

“To get the award today is pretty humbling,” he said.

“I have always said that this week is about the ladies in league but to be here today, I tell you, it’s pretty special.”

With Burt one of the few NRL players that has no off-field blemishes to his name, whilst many believe that that comes from simply being a good bloke, the Eels winger says that he has his wife and mother to thank for that.

“I don’t want this to come out the wrong way but my mum and dad never had it easy and they worked hard to get what they had in life,” he said.

“Dad was a roof tiler since he was 15 and Mum worked hard in offices all her life. They never really had the lucky break you need to get ahead in life. But as a child, me and my brother and sister had one of the best childhoods you could have dreamed of because their parenting was unbelievable.”

When asked as to what sort of advice he would give to the young players playing today, Burt said:

“The first thing I would say is that it’s going to be hard and you will have to work for it – but the rewards that come after that make it worth it.

“I have always been a huge believer that when I’m enjoying myself I play better football so that is the trick.”

When Burt made his debut back in 1999, his mum’s advice to the little blond-haired winger was simply: “Make sure you run.”

After twelve years, Kerrie Burt said that Luke has made her rugby league’s proudest mum.

“He has done it in style,” Kerrie said.

“You always hope that they will get through without any problems in their life and he has proved to me what a wonderful kid he is. I know he’s a man now, but he’s still my boy – and I’m so proud of him.”

By ricky

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.