Lawrence

M

MacDougall

New member
Okay I've seen a few posts suggesting Lawrence in the backrow and up til now I've mostly been against it.

But after his last two games, I'm damn sold.

He is not playing as a centre, he is playing as a wide running backrower. As a battering ram he is bending the line on every run. If we were watching him as a backrower he'd be getting high praise.

On Monday night he basically just did hit ups and tackle. His defense was note perfect and he bent the line on every hitup. Nothing special, just work. It was wide of the ruck, but backrowers do this. He is still fast enough that if he hits a good gap as a backrower he'd be a very fast wide running backrower, but his ability to poke through the line and his late pass make him a quality option there. Mainly what he has that other backrowers don't is a tank. He got through more metres than our forwards, playing just like a wide running backrower. His front of defense is quality too, he SNAPS big forwards and always has. It's his defensive decision making that is questionable and it's only an issue out wide.

I'm totally sold. I was worried he wasn't as effective an option as our others, but I've changed my tune. As a backrower, he'd be a special. If we had solid centres I'd slot him straight in there as an 80 minute backrower.

Thoughts?
 
Could be a go, I don't disagree with what you've put forward…but it still raises the question - who is going to replace him in the centres? Inu would be ideal but I don't think that rumour will eventuate...Lulia is not a first grade centre IMO. The only thing I could suggest is temporarily put Austin there but I want him as five eight until/if Moses is ever ready...
 
@MacDougall said:
Okay I've seen a few posts suggesting Lawrence in the backrow and up til now I've mostly been against it.

But after his last two games, I'm damn sold.

He is not playing as a centre, he is playing as a wide running backrower. As a battering ram he is bending the line on every run. If we were watching him as a backrower he'd be getting high praise.

On Monday night he basically just did hit ups and tackle. His defense was note perfect and he bent the line on every hitup. Nothing special, just work. It was wide of the ruck, but backrowers do this. He is still fast enough that if he hits a good gap as a backrower he'd be a very fast wide running backrower, but his ability to poke through the line and his late pass make him a quality option there. Mainly what he has that other backrowers don't is a tank. He got through more metres than our forwards, playing just like a wide running backrower. His front of defense is quality too, he SNAPS big forwards and always has. It's his defensive decision making that is questionable and it's only an issue out wide.

I'm totally sold. I was worried he wasn't as effective an option as our others, but I've changed my tune. As a backrower, he'd be a special. If we had solid centres I'd slot him straight in there as an 80 minute backrower.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I think you answered your own question Mac

Who would you bring into the centres in the meantime ??
 
I reckon next season you could possibly see him in the back row.

Don't forget Simona prefers the left… Slot him in there and go out and try and recruit a centre for the right side... I guess there's always Lulia!
 
@willow said:
Which backrower do you drop to accommodate him?
Click to expand...

Yep.

Just to state who we have there now:-

Blair, Fulton, Thompson are currently our 3 starters. Is Lawrence better than any of them. Then you add Sika, Sironen & Halatau to the mix and possibly Patterson without even considering some other options that will come through from our juniors. I also think you should only have one backrower on the bench.

I'd like to see Lawrence there in some ways however I think that our backrow which I thought would be ordinary is now really good and already more than one good player will miss out if we are injury free.
 
Lawrence try his best and take forward with the ball. He has been good but sorry about his injuries. Like Fulton he gives his best.
 
I thought he was a bit ordinary of Monday against Parra. His defense is a bit suspect at times and he just no longer has that speed to break the line, go through a gap or turn and chase.

He's running around like a bloke in his mid 30's…....
 
Was Lawrys great metres a game plan to the detriment of Anastas input & lack of metres? Therefore, the criticism of Anastas game could be unwarranted. Go Weststigers!
 
An honest toiler, currently performed above his capability, a quality to be admired. He is trying his heart out, for that alone he earns a salute from me.
 
Keep him at centre. Needs to work on combo and trust Brooks inside him.
Solid but needs time to click. When you're in and out of the team as much as he is the last 3 odd years it isn't going to happen overnight.
He's carting the ball up well and helping the forwards out, given we don't have problems scoring points so far (Monday aside) I wouldn't worry about it.

_Posted using RoarFEED V.4_
 
The thing is I actually think he would be a very good back rower. It's not that I think he's lost his touch as a centre, I really see a quality back rower in him now.

I understand how it appears but if you were looking at his last two matches in a bubble that didn't include what we know of his past and the fact that he's playing at centre you'd have seen a big effort where a bloke tackled his head off and made 14 10 metre carries.

A back rower with his tank and line bending ability is better than most. I want him groomed as Fulton's replacement and us to develop a centre.
 
he needs to beef up more? dont think so, he's already a unit.

his attack up the middle would be better than it is at present, and defence would be easier - he'd just need to make more tackles..

could be worth a try.
 
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