GOLD TALKS: Luke Campbell on Leadership, Playoff Goals & Growth

Feb 13 — 2025

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An exclusive interview with Luke Campbell

As NOLA Gold prepares for the 2025 MLR season, vice-captain Luke Campbell sits down for an exclusive Gold Talk interview. Entering his third year with the team, Campbell discusses his evolution as a leader, the team’s high expectations following last season’s playoff run, and the key changes under Coach Danny Lee. From his approach to motivation and communication to his dedication to personal performance and community engagement, Campbell offers a deep dive into the mindset driving NOLA Gold forward.

Read on to discover how Luke Campbell is shaping the future of NOLA GOLD with his leadership and passion for the game.

Q: This is your third year with the Gold. In what ways do you feel you’ve progressed most as a player?

Luke Campbell: I think I’ve progressed most in my leadership in three years. Coming here has given me the opportunity and experience to develop and grow as a leader. Hopefully, that will show this year and help the boys around me.  

Q: Coming off of last season with the team’s first-ever playoff appearances, what are the expectations for each other this season?

Luke Campbell: We want to get to the same place and hopefully go further. We definitely want to win, and we want to win at home. We want to make our fans want to turn out and support us. So, our expectations are to play really good rugby in front of them and for them, then make the playoffs and go further.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you would give the new guys joining the team?

Luke Campbell: Just to back yourself. When you’re new to the team, you take a little time to get to know everyone and to come out of your shell. You’re here for a reason, so give it everything you have.

Q: You had a lot of playing time last season. What are the key skills to this longevity as a halfback?

Luke Campbell: A lot of gym work and a lot of stretching to stay on the field and play those minutes. Looking out for my body between games, recover well after each game, and put in the work through the week so I can do it over again.

Q: Tell me a little about the changes Coach Lee has made for the team.

Luke Campbell: He’s been great, and he’s added a lot of structure and detail. He is very thorough in the detail he gives us. At the same time, he still gives us the responsibility that if we see opportunities that are outside what he’s given, we can take them, but the responsibility is on us. If it goes well, great, but if not we have to own it.

Q: In a previous interview, you stated that being vocal is central to your identity as a player. Could you elaborate on that?

Luke Campbell: I’m quiet off the field, but once I step out on the field in training and games, I use my voice. I understand the game well, and I understand who we are as a team. I speak my voice and help out the boys. If we need energy, I’m hyping us up. If we need to cool down, I’m that voice to calm us down.

Q: As a Vice-Captain and team leader, how do you motivate your teammates after a tough loss?

Luke Campbell: After a tough loss, I like to put it to the side and move on. That’s what I try to do with those around me. It’s a sport; there’s always gonna be a winner and a loser, and you are gonna end up on the wrong side of that sometimes. You have to worry about what you can control, and that’s what’s ahead of you.

Q: What is your communication style with the other players?

Luke Campbell: A calm voice.

Q: What’s one area of your game you’re particularly focused on improving this season?

Luke Campbell: My skill set as a halfback, so my passing and my box kicking being really accurate.

Q: How do you manage the pressure of being a leader on the team while also focusing on your personal performance?

Luke Campbell: I think it just comes naturally. When the ball is in play, I focus on myself, but when there are breaks, that’s when I get to think about what’s going on as a team. I think about where the momentum is, how we are, and how the ref is reffing us. There’s a balance. Once that ball is in play, though, I focus back on myself.  

Q: What made you help out at Brother Martin and become active in the community, and why do you think it’s important for Gold players to do so?

Luke Campbell: Being able to help out at Brother Martin was really cool. Engaging with those kids was incredible. They were really good kids. They’re willing to learn and ask a lot of questions. It’s really important for me to get out there when I can to help out and be active in the community I play in and I enjoy it.

Rapid fire questions

Your birthday is the day after our opening match. How do you plan to celebrate?

 Probably just family time with my son and my wife.

What is your go-to pre-match hype song?

 Anything by Wilkinson.

Kiss, Marry, Kill. Gumbo, red beans and rice, and jambalaya.

 Kiss, red beans and rice. Marry, gumbo. Kill , jambalaya.

Have you attended any Mardi Gras parades? If so, what’s your favorite?

Yes,  I couldn’t tell you the names of ’em off the top of my head.  I loved them all. 

Have you attended any Mardi Gras parades? If so, what’s your favorite?

 I spewed up.

With the 2025 season on the horizon, Luke Campbell’s leadership and experience will be vital to NOLA Gold’s success. His focus on improvement, accountability, and team culture reflects the squad’s hunger to push further in the playoffs and make a lasting impact on and off the field.

Stay tuned for more exclusive Gold Talk interviews as we follow NOLA GOLD’s journey through the season! Plus, don’t miss out on the action—get your tickets now and cheer on NOLA GOLD at their home opener on February 15!

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