North Queensland have secured experienced depth at dummy-half, with the Cowboys confirming the signing of former Panthers hooker Soni Luke on a Top 30 contract for the upcoming NRL season.
Luke earns an NRL lifeline after being among the players released by Penrith at the end of last year, bringing an end to a four-season stint inside the game’s most successful system.
The 29-year-old arrives in Townsville off the back of an impressive Pacific Championships campaign with Tonga, where his speed and work around the ruck stood out on the international stage.
Luke had initially linked up with South Sydney on a NSW Cup deal and was training with the Rabbitohs’ reserve-grade squad during the pre-season before the Cowboys moved to bolster their roster.
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He has made 26 first-grade appearances across his career and is expected to play a key support role behind starting hooker Reed Mahoney, while also providing experience alongside emerging dummy-half Xavier Kerrisk.
The Cowboys confirmed the signing on Tuesday, with general manager of football Micheal Luck outlining the club’s thinking behind the move.
“With the departure of Karl Lawton, we had an open spot in our roster for an experienced dummy-half to complement Reed Mahoney and Xavier Kerrisk,” Luck said.
“Soni has been a part of the Panthers system during their four consecutive grand final wins, so he knows what it takes to win and remain successful in the NRL,” Luck continued.
Luck added that Luke’s craft out of dummy-half and professionalism made him a strong fit as the Cowboys look to build depth and resilience across their spine in 2026.
Luke has shown plenty of attacking promise at NRL level, capable of exploiting tired ruck defence and generating momentum when given an opportunity.
While consistent first-grade minutes were hard to come by at Penrith, a bench role in Townsville could see the livewire hooker emerge as a shrewd value signing for Todd Payten and the Cowboys.