Lawrence should claw his way into Blues side
Roar Guru
By Alan Nicolea, 23 Apr 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Chris Lawrence, NRL, NSW State of Origin, Rugby League
Although the 40 man NSW Origin squad threw up its fair share of surprises, the inclusion of Wests Tigers centre Chris Lawrence was definitely not one of them.
His form so far in 2009 should see him make his debut this year for a Blues side that is looking to stop Queensland’s three year dominance.
Although there are strong cases for the likes of Jamie Lyon, Matt Cooper and Michael Jennings to be selected in the centres for NSW, Lawrence has shown enough of the qualities needed for Origin to be given first crack at a sky blue jumper this season.
After making his NRL debut in 2006, Lawrence arguably came into the minds of representative selectors in 2007, when he scored 16 tries in just 18 games of first grade.
This form was rewarded with selection in the Prime Ministers XIII for the annual end of season match against Papua New Guinea.
With that experience under his belt, it seems Lawrence has taken his game to a new level to produce his best start to an NRL season so far.
He has already scored five tries this season, leaving him equal second on the NRL tryscorer’s list – just one behind team-mate Taniela Tuiaki.
Lawrence is also equal second in the NRL for total line breaks made, with six already under his belt.
While those early season statistics favour Lawrence’s selection in the NSW 40 man squad, his performance against the Melbourne Storm on Monday night should have left no doubts about his place in NSW’s starting side this year.
Lawrence produced a game that was bittersweet for Storm coach Craig Bellamy.
The 20 year old centre scored two tries, including a seventy metre effort that ended up being a foot race against incumbent Queensland fullback Billy Slater.
Although Slater is one of the fastest players going around in the NRL, he never looked like catching Lawrence, as the young Tiger sped away to score his fifth try of the season.
If Lawrence can stand tall against the Storm, there is no reason why he should not be included in NSW’s starting thirteen for the first game at Etihad stadium in Melbourne.
If the selectors can find a way to pick a player like Lyon, who is not even interested at playing for NSW, surely an eager kid like Lawrence deserves first mention when they pick a side that is looking to avoid four consecutive series defeats.
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Bay35Pablo said | April 23rd 2009 @ 8:19am | Report comment
People were talking up Lawrence as being a chance before the squad was named, so he was always in the running this year. Having said that, after Robbie Farah getting ignored for the last couple of years, the fear was he’d get ignored as well for others picked on rep rather than form. The selectors seem to have bitten the bullet this year and taken a punt on some players, rather than pick the same old faces. Happens when you’ve lost 3 in a row. Hopefully the new side will show the hunger needed to beat the banjo players (fire up Queenslanders – hah!).
Here’s hoping some tiger in the tank with Lawrence, Farah and Galloway gets the Blues firing again!
sportsfanslife.com said | April 23rd 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
The only question mark previously for Lawrence has been his defence, especially when he has been played at 5/8 and lock in past years. Since being moved permantly to centre, he has shown steady improvement, save the odd lapse, in defence. His hit on Proctor Monday night showed he is a quick learner. Super quick, big, strong, and now an above average defender…NSW could do a lot worse! But forget Lawrence, if Farah gets overlooked again, this time for Ennis, it’ll create a riot in Tigertown! Go the Tigers!
PuntPal said | April 23rd 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Joel Monaghan will be picked before Chris Lawrence, in my opinion.
Lawrence has missed a lot of tackles in his career and that would have Inglis, Hodges, Falou and Slater licking their lips at the thought of running at him in game 1.
Monaghan has shown he rarely misses a tackle and his ability under the high ball is also a factor in his favour. I think Monaghan and Jennings provide a good mix of size, speed and height.
Alan Nicolea said | April 23rd 2009 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Puntpal
I think Monaghan already has one centre spot in the Blues line-up. I should have mentioned him before. While i love Jennings in attack, his defence for mine remains a big worry. Overall, i think Lawrence has been the better player so far this season.
The Link said | April 23rd 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
Cooper and Monaghan will be the centres. Does Lawrence have enough impact to come off the bench? For me he’s more a finisher, not sure he can create enough. Bench could well be Mullen and three forwards.
DELL said | April 23rd 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
still Monaghan and Jennings together on one side and Lawrence and Luke Lewis on the other.. good defence and attack. Monaghan and Jennings can switch in defence to handle bombs? or what about Feleti Mateo as a bolter for centre – that would give Hodges something to worry about?
Mr Sports said | April 23rd 2009 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
I agree that Lawrence should be in the Origin team. My only concern is that NSW are going to end up with four backs who are all better centres than they are wingers. I’m not sure how you decide who out of Lyon, Lawrence, Wolfman, Jennings, Monaghan, Lewis and Cooper (and i’ve probably missed a couple as well) should be the final four they settle on and in which positions. More importantly does it really matter when the opposition is so stocked for outside backs that Matt Bowen isn’t even being considered?
brad turner said | April 23rd 2009 @ 11:13pm | Report comment
dead set if lawrence doesnt play or farrah for the blues the selectors are not serios about the state of origin. you can put other players up for grabs for these positions,but wake up and smell the coffie we need new blood and why not from the tigers,best attack in the league,fair enough the worst defence but thats a team not one player.