
Luke Bateman on surviving a gambling addiction and the magic of his mum’s love
From Conversations
Published 5/29/2026

From Conversations
Published 5/29/2026
The former Canberra Raiders player on hiding his fantasy reading habits as a kid in Western Queensland, the joy of doing hard things, and how books brought him back from the brink. Warning: Discussion of suicide.Luke was a sensitive kid, growing up on a cattle station in Western Queensland. He…