FULL OF RUNNING: Kiwis hooker Isaac Luke has been tipped to win the NRL's Dally M Award this year by Aussie great Andrew Johns.

When Andrew Johns hands out a rugby league tip, it's usually sound advice and the Aussie legend has some good oil on Kiwis hooker Isaac Luke.

A third of the way through the NRL season and Johns reckons Luke has the Dally M Medal all but sewn up.

He's been a consistent standout for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and it's that sort of form that makes him one of the first names on New Zealand coach Steve Kearney's team sheet for Friday night's Anzac Test against Australia in Melbourne.

Four years into his NRL career and Luke is starting to produce his dynamic dummy half play for prolonged periods week-in and week-out.

It hasn't gone unnoticed on Johns.

"There is no such thing as a wise investment when it comes to betting on rugby league but for what it's worth, I have a tip for you. Get on Issac Luke now to win the Dally M Medal," he wrote in a recent newspaper column.

And it seems the bookies have listened. Five Australian betting agencies have him as their favourite eight games into the championship.

"Souths' little dynamo is just about the NRL's form player. And with doubts over Johnathan Thurston's fitness and Jarryd Hayne and Parramatta's slow start to the season, I reckon Luke is almost a special," continued Johns, saying Luke had the ability to make things happen every time he touched the ball and was also "banging blokes in defence".

"He is also playing 80 minutes and being a lot more selective about when he runs and when he passes."

It's good that someone is talking Luke up because you will never hear it from the 22-year-old dynamo himself. Modesty is a hallmark of this shy young man who hails from Hawera in the Taranaki.

"There is a lot to add to my game still. It's a work in progress. I'm still trying to find the right combinations with my forwards when we go forward off me," he says as the Kiwis get down to business in Melbourne.

He's thrilled to be back working with Kearney.

"I love the coach that he is. He's on to us week in and week out ... we talk about what I have to work on."

Luke will admit that he is finding things more comfortable in the NRL. And so he should after 66 matches. But it's his increasing starting roles with Souths that have bolstered his confidence, something that he will take into this test.

Not that he doesn't admit to nerves. He's still haunted by last year's Anzac Test experience when he was controversially banned from the match because of a striking charge from the previous weekend's NRL action.

The ban reduced him to tears and had the NZRL questioning the whole judiciary system. He's been on tenterhooks this week, counting down the days to the test and fearful that something might arise out of South's loss to Manly last Sunday.

He can breathe easy. The Kiwis got a rare "all clear" from the Australian officials and Luke can knuckle down to put the finishing touches to preparations for his 11th international.

Part of the World Cup-winning side from 2008 and in the mix from last year's team that drew with Australia in the Four Nations up north, he's desperate to get a result closer to home.

"Anywhere in Australia and New Zealand we need to step up to the plate now," he declared, adding that there could be no excuses about their preparations.

"We have been given the chance to play to the best of our abilities against the bets."

Asked how the Kiwis can beat the Kangaroos Down Under, Luke said it was "an 80-minute issue".

"We have had patches like in the Anzac test in 2008 when we started playing after 20 minutes. We won 60 minutes of the game but it had already been lost earlier. We have to stay in it the whole time on Friday night."

Luke faces a big personal test, taking on Australia's multi-talented hooker Cameron Smith in his home city.
But on form you wouldn't bet against Luke winning the battle of the number nines. Just ask Andrew Johns.