 A Mosman, New South Wales stevedore, Lutge commenced his rugby career with the Mosman Juniors in 1893, before playing for Sydney's Northern Suburbs club from 1901 until 1907.He made his international début as a lock-forward in the first ever rugby union test match played between the Australian team and the All Blacks in Sydney, on 15 August 1903.He went on to appear in all three of Australia's Test losses in 1904 against the visiting British Lions.