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<big>**Big game beckons patient Tiger Lawrence**</big>
By Ian McCullough AAP Thu, Nov 17, 2011 - 2:14 PM
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Sporting four stitches in a cut forehead is nothing more than a badge of honour for Kangaroos centre Chris Lawrence as he looks ahead to the biggest game of his career. Injuries have blighted the classy Wests Tigers star's representative chances, this year ruling him out of an almost certain State of Origin debut for NSW. The horrendous hip dislocation he suffered in round three, sidelining him for three months, had Blues coach Ricky Stuart so in need of a left centre he asked St George Illawarra veteran Matt Cooper to end his rep retirement. Arguably the best current NSW-eligible centre not to have played Origin, Lawrence was forced to pull out of the City-Country Blues trial in 2009 with an ankle injury and then missed selection for the series against Queensland.
In 2010, then-NSW boss Craig Bellamy's policy of picking size to contain the likes of Greg Inglis cost the 23-year-old. Lawrence is nursing a minor shoulder problem ahead of the Four Nations final against England, but nothing will prevent him running out at Elland Road on Saturday.
"I think all of us are carrying a few bumps and bruises," he said.
"But it's a final against England, Darren Lockyer's farewell and the most important game I've played in so you play through it."
It may have been a long wait, but Lawrence has enjoyed a stellar start to his international career, with a stunning strike rate of five tries in as many games since making his Kangaroos debut against New Zealand in Auckland last year. His form on this tour has pleased coach Tim Sheens, but Lawrence admits the switch from his favoured left side to the right to accommodate the fit-again Inglis has taken some time to adjust to.
"I played a bit of right side early in my career, and we work on it in training, but it is very different in a game," Lawrence said.
"I've had two games there now and I feel a lot more comfortable and confident now than I did. It's just a matter of running different channels and getting used to running on the other side of the field with the ball."
Lawrence will go up against Brisbane's Jack Reed on Saturday and explosive winger Ryan Hall, whose two-try exploits against the Kangaroos and superb finish against the Kiwis last week have earned him a surprise nomination for the Golden Boot award. The Tigers strike weapon is fully expecting a tough evening when the faces the pair again at Elland Road.
"We're well aware of their ability," Lawrence said.
"We've seen what they can do. They played really well against us the first time.
"In the past, England have gone forward but haven't been able to finish off their plays. Now they've got some good young halves and some outside backs, particularly Jack Reed, and Hall is a great finisher."
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http://www.nrl.com/big-game-beckons-patient-tiger-lawrence/tabid/10874/newsid/65493/default.aspx
By Ian McCullough AAP Thu, Nov 17, 2011 - 2:14 PM
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Sporting four stitches in a cut forehead is nothing more than a badge of honour for Kangaroos centre Chris Lawrence as he looks ahead to the biggest game of his career. Injuries have blighted the classy Wests Tigers star's representative chances, this year ruling him out of an almost certain State of Origin debut for NSW. The horrendous hip dislocation he suffered in round three, sidelining him for three months, had Blues coach Ricky Stuart so in need of a left centre he asked St George Illawarra veteran Matt Cooper to end his rep retirement. Arguably the best current NSW-eligible centre not to have played Origin, Lawrence was forced to pull out of the City-Country Blues trial in 2009 with an ankle injury and then missed selection for the series against Queensland.
In 2010, then-NSW boss Craig Bellamy's policy of picking size to contain the likes of Greg Inglis cost the 23-year-old. Lawrence is nursing a minor shoulder problem ahead of the Four Nations final against England, but nothing will prevent him running out at Elland Road on Saturday.
"I think all of us are carrying a few bumps and bruises," he said.
"But it's a final against England, Darren Lockyer's farewell and the most important game I've played in so you play through it."
It may have been a long wait, but Lawrence has enjoyed a stellar start to his international career, with a stunning strike rate of five tries in as many games since making his Kangaroos debut against New Zealand in Auckland last year. His form on this tour has pleased coach Tim Sheens, but Lawrence admits the switch from his favoured left side to the right to accommodate the fit-again Inglis has taken some time to adjust to.
"I played a bit of right side early in my career, and we work on it in training, but it is very different in a game," Lawrence said.
"I've had two games there now and I feel a lot more comfortable and confident now than I did. It's just a matter of running different channels and getting used to running on the other side of the field with the ball."
Lawrence will go up against Brisbane's Jack Reed on Saturday and explosive winger Ryan Hall, whose two-try exploits against the Kangaroos and superb finish against the Kiwis last week have earned him a surprise nomination for the Golden Boot award. The Tigers strike weapon is fully expecting a tough evening when the faces the pair again at Elland Road.
"We're well aware of their ability," Lawrence said.
"We've seen what they can do. They played really well against us the first time.
"In the past, England have gone forward but haven't been able to finish off their plays. Now they've got some good young halves and some outside backs, particularly Jack Reed, and Hall is a great finisher."
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http://www.nrl.com/big-game-beckons-patient-tiger-lawrence/tabid/10874/newsid/65493/default.aspx
