Off-contract at season's end, Luke Lewis is keeping talk of his future at an arm's length with the veteran Sharks back-rower just weeks away from the birth of his first child.
At 32, Lewis could be forgiven for feeling nervous about his future on the field, but it is off the paddock where his life is about to change dramatically.
"Every day you wake up and see the wife's belly getting bigger. We talk about it most nights that it's getting closer. You start to see the nursery come together too and all the gifts the people bring in and it starts to get surreal," Lewis told NRL.com.
"But mate, I'm just looking forward to meeting the little one. We don't know what we're having so it's a good surprise ahead."
While Lewis would like to remain at Cronulla and have his future sorted as soon as possible, he isn't letting doubt over a new contract get to him.
"I'd love to stay here and play footy for the Sharks. I love the club, the boys and the area. But look mate, focus-wise for me is I just want to have fun playing footy," Lewis said.
"I don't think too much about [my future]. I just want to go out and do my job for the team and see where it takes me. I have no stress about re-signing or doing anything straight away."
He may be about to begin his 16th season in the NRL, but Lewis has still found plenty to enjoy about his latest pre-season – particularly the fact he hasn't missed a single training session.
He said Cronulla's recent bonding camp on the New South Wales Central Coast only brought him and his teammates closer together.
"I'm really enjoying my off-season this year. It's been outstanding. My body feels great and I just want to enjoy it for what it is at the moment," Lewis said.
"I'm enjoying all of their company and for me that's probably the best thing about it – the camaraderie you build with your teammates away from playing on the field.
"I think it's a vital part to yourself and to the team being out there and building combinations with players. The more we train together and play together the quicker the combinations come."
