Chris Lawrence to claw his way into a NSW jumper
April 22nd 2009 09:08
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 season 2009 should see him make his debut this year for a Blues side that is looking to stop Queensland’s recent 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 in 2009, 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 arguably produce his best start to an NRL season so far.
He has already scored five tries this season to leave 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 queries about his place in NSW’s starting side this year.
Lawrence produced a game that was arguably a bittersweet one for Storm coach Craig Bellamy to process, such was his influence on the match.
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.
Whilst Lawrence’s skill with the football in hand are to be commended, the Eaglevale junior also held his own in defence.
Against a terrific attacking unit like the Storm, Lawrence remained composed on his wing and was able to help the Tigers maintain a defensive structure that plagued the Storm into error and frustration.
Indeed Lawrence produced his best game of football this season against a Melbourne backline that counts with Origin calibre players such as Anthony Quinn, Greg Inglis, Slater and Steve Turner.
If Lawrence can stand tall against them, there is no reason why he should not be included in NSW’s starting thirteen for the clinical 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 NSW side that are looking to avoid four consecutive series defeats.
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