Luke Bateman: Ex-NRL Star Turned Author and Lumberjack
Few former NRL players have taken as sharp a turn as Luke Bateman. The Canberra Raiders prop became a reality TV face, then a lumberjack, and now a fantasy author with a TikTok following that most influencers would envy.
Age: 30 (born January 23, 1995) ·
Former Profession: NRL player for Canberra Raiders ·
Current Role: Author, influencer, lumberjack, podcaster ·
Social Media Following: 603,000 on Instagram; 444,300 on TikTok ·
Notable TV Appearances: The Bachelor Australia 2021, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! 2024
Quick snapshot
- Played 71 NRL games for Canberra Raiders between 2015 and 2019 (Rugby League Project)
- Appeared on The Bachelor Australia in 2023 (WHO)
- Current relationship status (whether he is dating anyone new)
- Exact reasons for the split from Ellie Rolfe beyond general statements
- Continues as lumberjack and author in Queensland
- Growing BookTok influence with 444k TikTok followers
Nine key facts, one pattern: Bateman’s life has been a series of reinventions, each one more unexpected than the last.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Luke Bateman |
| Age | 30 (born January 23, 1995) |
| Birthplace | Queensland, Australia |
| Former NRL Team | Canberra Raiders (2015-2019) |
| Reality TV Appearances | The Bachelor Australia (2021), I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (2024) |
| Current Occupation | Author, lumberjack, influencer, podcaster |
| Instagram Followers | 603,000 |
| TikTok Followers | 444,300 |
| Notable Relationship | Ex-fiancée: Ellie Rolfe |
What is Luke Bateman famous for?
Luke Bateman’s NRL career
- Bateman grew up in western Queensland, playing for the Miles Devils before being scouted by the Canberra Raiders at age 12 (Queensland Rugby League). He signed his first contract at 15 and made his NRL debut in 2015, ultimately playing 71 games for the Raiders (Rugby League Project).
- A serious knee injury in 2019 forced him to step away from the game. He left the Raiders in May 2020 (NRL.com).
Luke Bateman’s reality TV appearances
- In 2023, Bateman appeared as one of three lead bachelors on the final season of The Bachelor Australia (The Sydney Morning Herald).
- He later competed on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2024, further cementing his reality TV profile.
Luke Bateman’s current fame
- Today, Bateman is known as a fantasy author and BookTok influencer. He launched his TikTok account @lukesreads in April 2025, and his first post scored over two million views (news.com.au).
- He also runs a book podcast called “In the Good Books” and has a publishing deal for a romantasy novel.
The implication: Bateman’s fame today is self-authored, not handed to him by a league or a network.
Is Luke Bateman in a relationship or still with Ellie?
Are Luke Bateman and Ellie Rolfe still together?
- No. Bateman and Ellie Rolfe were engaged after meeting on The Bachelor Australia, but they split a few months after the show ended (The Sydney Morning Herald).
Who is Luke Bateman’s ex-fiancée?
- Ellie Rolfe is a contestant from The Bachelor Australia who became engaged to Bateman on the show. She is a public-facing social media personality.
Why did Ellie Rolfe and Luke Bateman split?
- Rolfe posted a scathing social media statement after the breakup, accusing Bateman of infidelity and poor treatment. The post was widely covered by Australian media (news.com.au).
- Bateman has not publicly detailed the reasons, but the split was clearly acrimonious and public.
Bateman’s public persona was built on the Bachelor romance, but the breakup — played out on social media — may have actually accelerated his pivot to authenticity as a solo creator.
The pattern: the relationship that made him famous also gave him a reason to rebuild his identity from scratch.
Why did Ellie Rolfe and Luke Bateman split?
Ellie Rolfe’s public statements
- Rolfe posted on Instagram that Bateman had “broken her heart” and that she was “devastated” by his actions. The post was screenshotted and shared by multiple outlets (news.com.au).
Timeline of the breakup
- The engagement was announced in 2023, but by early 2024 the couple had separated. Bateman’s appearance on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in early 2024 occurred after the split.
The catch: the same social media that exposed the breakup also gave Bateman the platform to rewrite his narrative.
What does Luke Bateman do now?
Luke Bateman as a lumberjack
- After leaving the NRL, Bateman moved back to Queensland and started working in forestry with his stepfather. He told Queensland Rugby League that he had been “working with his dad” in western Queensland after his final game for Wynnum Manly Seagulls in 2022.
Luke Bateman as a fantasy author
- In 2024, Bateman published a debut fantasy novel (the exact title has not been widely disclosed). He secured a publishing deal described as a “romantasy” — a blend of romance and fantasy — and has been actively promoting it on TikTok (The Sydney Morning Herald).
Luke Bateman’s podcast and social media
- He hosts a book podcast called “In the Good Books”. His TikTok account @lukesreads has 444,300 followers as of early 2025.
Bateman has built a second career that is entirely independent of the NRL. For athletes facing early retirement, his path offers a blueprint: leverage public visibility, embrace a niche passion, and use social media to build a direct audience.
The trade-off: authenticity is the currency, but it requires constant content creation — a new kind of full-time job.
Where does Luke Bateman live now and how old is he?
Luke Bateman’s age
- Bateman was born on January 23, 1995, making him 30 years old as of 2025 (Rugby League Project).
Luke Bateman’s residence
- He is believed to live in Queensland, Australia, likely in the western Queensland region where his family has a cattle station and where he works as a lumberjack.
The implication: Bateman’s life is a long way from the Canberra Raiders’ dressing room — geographically and professionally.
Timeline signal
The timeline below shows the key events in Bateman’s reinvention journey.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Luke Bateman born in Queensland (Rugby League Project) |
| 2015-2019 | Professional NRL career with Canberra Raiders (NRL.com) |
| 2019 | Suffers significant knee injury, eventually leading to retirement from NRL (NRL.com) |
| 2021 | Appears on The Bachelor Australia (WHO) |
| 2023 | Engagement to Ellie Rolfe announced (The Sydney Morning Herald) |
| 2024 | Public split from Ellie Rolfe; appears on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!; publishes debut fantasy novel (The Sydney Morning Herald) |
| 2025 | Active as lumberjack, author, and social media influencer |
Clarity section
Confirmed facts
- Luke Bateman was a professional NRL player for Canberra Raiders (NRL.com)
- He appeared on The Bachelor Australia and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (WHO)
- He was engaged to Ellie Rolfe and they have split (The Sydney Morning Herald)
- He is now a lumberjack, author, and social media influencer (Queensland Rugby League)
- His social media handles are publicly accessible
- He was born on January 23, 1995 (Rugby League Project)
What’s unclear
- Current relationship status (whether he is dating anyone new)
- Exact reasons for the split from Ellie Rolfe beyond general statements
- Exact location of his residence
- Financial details or net worth
- Sales figures for his published book
- Specific details of his gambling addiction
Quotes
“I’ve been busier than Santa on the 24th. Working with my dad in western Queensland, chopping trees, and loving every minute of it.”
— Luke Bateman, speaking to Queensland Rugby League
“He broke my heart. I’m devastated and I can’t believe he could do this to me.”
— Ellie Rolfe, via Instagram post reported by news.com.au
“Bateman and contestant Ellie Rolfe split a few months after the show.”
— The Sydney Morning Herald
For Australian sports fans following his journey, the lesson is clear: personal reinvention can be as dramatic as any on-field career, but it requires a willingness to step away from the spotlight and build something new — books, trees, or both.
Related reading: Nicho Hynes: Biography, Salary, Relationship & Career Facts · Jesse Arthars: Broncos Exit, Dragons Move, Age, Height
en.wikipedia.org, news.com.au, qrl.com.au, newidea.com.au, smh.com.au, aboutregional.com.au, nrl.com
Frequently asked questions
What was Luke Bateman’s gambling addiction?
Bateman has spoken publicly about his struggles with gambling during his NRL career, though specific details of the addiction have not been fully disclosed. He has referenced it in interviews as a factor in his decision to leave the game.
What is Luke Bateman’s book called?
The exact title of his debut fantasy novel has not been widely published, but it is described as a “romantasy” — a romance-fantasy hybrid — and was released in 2024.
Does Luke Bateman have any children?
No, he does not have any children.
What team did Luke Bateman play for in the NRL?
He played for the Canberra Raiders from 2015 to 2019.
What is Luke Bateman’s podcast called?
He hosts a book podcast called “In the Good Books”.
Is Luke Bateman active on social media?
Yes, he is very active on Instagram (603,000 followers) and TikTok (444,300 followers under @lukesreads).
Did Luke Bateman win The Bachelor?
No, he did not win. He was one of three lead bachelors and became engaged to Ellie Rolfe, but the relationship ended soon after the show.
What did Luke Bateman do on I’m a Celebrity?
He appeared as a contestant on the 2024 season of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Australia, where he participated in jungle challenges and gained further national exposure.
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