There are rumours circulating that Chris Lawrence is headed to Canberra in 2015. How could the Tigers consider letting go of one of their favourite sons?
At just 25, Lawrence has already amassed 143 games and 68 tries in nine seasons as a brilliant hole running centre. Lawrence has another decade of football remaining in his career and yet many unkind pundits have been quick to label him “past it”. Some have been suggesting he either shift into the forwards or even more incredibly that he retire.
It is no secret that Lawrence has struggled to replicate his brilliant peak form circa 2010 ever since he sustained a gruesome hip injury in early 2011. Upon returning to the game both his lateral movement and his greatest asset, his speed, have been noticeably affected.
However, despite a poor recent month of football this season, Lawrence has finally regained consistency in 2014 with his first uninterrupted campaign since 2010. In 2011 his hip injury saw him play less than 10 games, 2012 saw him consistently played out of position to cover for various injuries and 2013 he played just 13 matches.
He has run with determination and passion this season and has shown glimpses of the form that saw him earn selection for the Four Nations in 2010. Lawrence also appears the quickest he has in many seasons, suggesting that he is gradually over coming the adversity of the injury and various niggles suffered since.
While his form and particular his handling has been poor the last month, 2014 has been a solid season for Lawrence.
Lawrence is contracted to the Tigers until the end of 2015 and I believe he has shown enough this season to suggest that he can continue to take steps to returning to the once great player he was.
He may however be advised to take some of the bulk off as he is sporting a vastly heavier frame this season, fluctuating between 96-100 kilograms, which would add further pressure to his hip and potentially hamper his speed.
The Tigers and their fans should show some loyalty to a great servant of the club who has plenty of football ahead of him. There is no reason to rush a decision that has another year to be made.
Mark Gliddon
Guest
Lawrence should stay for as long as he wants. He's a local junior (Campbelltown) and a great ambassador for the club. He's playing well at the moment, giving his all for the team. I see him as an ideal person to lead the younger crew around. He's the best outside back we've produced in two decades and I consider him the heart and soul of the team. I only hope he can stay on the field for the next few years, he's due some luck with his body.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Obviously his injury affected his pace... But I think he was poorly used. He was one of the fastest players in the comp when he was younger.... and whilst I agree with Mr Brown, who raises very good points about his pace possibly hindering his development of anything remotely close to footwork, I think his coaches used his pace only to hit lines off ball players. They never tried to get him into space, they tried to make him bust through into space. That contact can take it's toll on a young man at the top level. Remember he started playing when he was in senior if I recall? That is extremely young to be used as a line runner, whose job is to bust through. He certainly has some poor handling recently. That is for sure. If it continues, I think the decision will be out of Chris' hands (pun intended).
Mr Brown
Roar Pro
Luke Lewis is exactly the type I had in mind. Would love to see it tried.
Sam H
Roar Pro
Lawrence is struggling in part because as of 2012 the Tiger's left side attack has been a complete disaster, with Marshall gradually losing the plot and the loss of Dwyer and Ellis. Watch Lawrence's career highlights - there are some moments of individual brilliance, but a lot more examples of him running excellent lines outside excellent ballplayers and using a combination of his pace and hard running to get over the line. The fact that has disappeared over the last few years I think has much more to do with the fact that the Tigers attack has been generally horrible than Lawrence's injury or form (although both of these have clearly also been factors). He is an excellent target for ballplayers and a finisher - and there has been very little to finish for several years. He is clearly struggling at the moment (although the last couple of rounds have been better) and his hands and front on defence have always been capable of letting him down. But he is a local junior and arguably the most whole hearted player at the club. We have converted him into a battering ram and he has not shirked it, during a period at the club where just about everyone else has at times. The Tigers should stick it out and give him time to come good. That might happen at centre, but will rely on the team coming good around him. If he heads into the pack at least he'll have a bit more control over his own form and future.
James Preston
Roar Guru
@Mr Brown Good points, I think he is in a similar position to Luke Lewis of a few years ago where he began to find himself severely struggling out wide, considering he has gone on to become one of the best second rowers in the game it could be well worth experimenting with Lawrence.
Mr Brown
Roar Pro
Lawrence would do better than Blair in some respects. But Blair leaves Lawrence in the dust when it comes to ball control and passing. However, I agree, I do want to see him play more in the middle.
maximillian
Guest
yep he doesnt have the evasiveness & speed since his injury but is still quality. I think he could be devastating as a wide ranging back rower with his strong hole running, similar to Hoffman/Aubusson.
Mr Brown
Roar Pro
Lawrence wouldn't be a be bad fit in the back row. He lacks the footwork to be considered line of the Game's best centres and doesn't have great hands - not to mention, his passing is diabolical. Lawrence's best asset was his speed but that has waned over the last few seasons. However, and I'm going to go out on a limb here, I say that Lawrence's blistering pace of his youth may have lead his undoing. Allow me to explain why. Lawrence's speed has turned out to be his undoing as he is without question, one of the most 1 dimensional specialist centres in the game. His method to beat an opponent is to out run them, which is often by attempting to go around them. This method probably worked a treat in his junior league days and he probably scored more often than not. However, as a consequence, it has effectively meant that Chris didn't develop a step, or any footwork for that matter - there was simply no need to. This has been his greatest undoing. Once his pace dropped, which it has now, Chris is and has been playing more like a wide running back-rower than strike centre, and has so for years. When you combine Lawrence's lack of lateral movement - and lack of footwork in general - with an ordinary passing game and a high un-forced error count (16 so far this season), one would have conclude that his days in the numbers 3 or 4 have to be all but over. As a Tigers' fan, I would be happy to let him go if he stays a center. However, if he gets moved into the middle of the park, where I seriously believe he could have a career turnaround, I would be more than happy to see him at Concord for a few more years.
The eye
Guest
Looks like we are headed for another tiger clean out..rumour (RLW) says the first one gone is the coach..
Doug Graves
Guest
He's OK but after he dislocated his hip he's never been the same. With that injury and at his current weight I think he'd make a fairly reliable and speedy back rower, certainly better than Blair.
james t
Guest
Yea id let him go, he hasn't been anywhere near his best since he broke his hip. time to let the younger Guys have a go
curaeus
Guest
Agree totally. Rowdy puts in 100% every game. He often cops a lot of unfair criticism for missing tackles whilst trying to cover for other players mistakes. His form has been good this year as one of the few senior players and leaders in a very young and inexperienced team