Unfiltered: Chris Lawrence

[ricksen]

Chris has been doing these fluff pieces every year for I don't know how long. Yes he's a good club man yes he's generally a good guy but he ISN'T the answer to our backrower problem IMO.

Unfortunately he's the best answer we have for now.
Hopefully we're already looking at the backrow market for 2018.

 

[clontarfkid]

Great guy we all agree,but along with whomever plays at 9 plus ET at 13,it means we have 3 sub 100kg forwards in our run on side when most successful teams are already smashing us thru the forwards,and continue to bulk up further
We need more size and impact in our forwards

 

[king_sirro]

Nothing negative about this guy. Very classy.

And I dont care what anyone says, THE best line runner in the game.

Best line runner and best one on one hitter.

I think most of us, myself included have forgotten his first half of the year in 2016\. He was great. Like Geo said, it took its toll on him later in the year and thats because he was poorly managed by Taylor. Most of us just remember that he wasnt great late in the year. Physically he wasnt up to playing 80 minutes week in week out in the backrow. When he was fresh early in the season he was the form backrower in the competition. I think he may just surprise a few people this year. Especially if he isnt made to play 80 minutes. Can you imagine his hole running on the edge if we can learn to win the ruck? He would be a weapon. And when fresh, there wouldnt be a better protector of our halves defensively.

 

[happy_tiger]

Nothing negative about this guy. Very classy.

And I dont care what anyone says, THE best line runner in the game.

Best line runner and best one on one hitter.

I think most of us, myself included have forgotten his first half of the year in 2016\. He was great. Like Geo said, it took its toll on him later in the year and thats because he was poorly managed by Taylor. Most of us just remember that he wasnt great late in the year. Physically he wasnt up to playing 80 minutes week in week out in the backrow. When he was fresh early in the season he was the form backrower in the competition. I think he may just surprise a few people this year. Especially if he isnt made to play 80 minutes. Can you imagine his hole running on the edge if we can learn to win the ruck? He would be a weapon. And when fresh, there wouldnt be a better protector of our halves defensively.

But that's the problem in the end , one of our backrowers and preferably two have to play 80 minutes every week

When you are subbing a hooker twice , rotating your props , and a backrower it doesn't leave much for injuries

And we are the king for injuries , more often than not because we lack size in our forwards

 

[king_sirro]

Nothing negative about this guy. Very classy.

And I dont care what anyone says, THE best line runner in the game.

Best line runner and best one on one hitter.

I think most of us, myself included have forgotten his first half of the year in 2016\. He was great. Like Geo said, it took its toll on him later in the year and thats because he was poorly managed by Taylor. Most of us just remember that he wasnt great late in the year. Physically he wasnt up to playing 80 minutes week in week out in the backrow. When he was fresh early in the season he was the form backrower in the competition. I think he may just surprise a few people this year. Especially if he isnt made to play 80 minutes. Can you imagine his hole running on the edge if we can learn to win the ruck? He would be a weapon. And when fresh, there wouldnt be a better protector of our halves defensively.

But that's the problem in the end , one of our backrowers and preferably two have to play 80 minutes every week

When you are subbing a hooker twice , rotating your props , and a backrower it doesn't leave much for injuries

And we are the king for injuries , more often than not because we lack size in our forwards

Yeh i agree. Its difficult not having 80 minute backrowers.

Im not sure what the answer is. The only guy i see getting through 80 on the edge is Elijah. But like we talked about previously, is he big enough and will we miss his workrate in the middle too much???

Life would be easier with an 80 minute hooker IMO.

 

[happy_tiger]

Nothing negative about this guy. Very classy.

And I dont care what anyone says, THE best line runner in the game.

Best line runner and best one on one hitter.

I think most of us, myself included have forgotten his first half of the year in 2016\. He was great. Like Geo said, it took its toll on him later in the year and thats because he was poorly managed by Taylor. Most of us just remember that he wasnt great late in the year. Physically he wasnt up to playing 80 minutes week in week out in the backrow. When he was fresh early in the season he was the form backrower in the competition. I think he may just surprise a few people this year. Especially if he isnt made to play 80 minutes. Can you imagine his hole running on the edge if we can learn to win the ruck? He would be a weapon. And when fresh, there wouldnt be a better protector of our halves defensively.

But that's the problem in the end , one of our backrowers and preferably two have to play 80 minutes every week

When you are subbing a hooker twice , rotating your props , and a backrower it doesn't leave much for injuries

And we are the king for injuries , more often than not because we lack size in our forwards

Yeh i agree. Its difficult not having 80 minute backrowers.

Im not sure what the answer is. The only guy i see getting through 80 on the edge is Elijah. But like we talked about previously, is he big enough and will we miss his workrate in the middle too much???

Life would be easier with an 80 minute hooker IMO.

Don't get me wrong ,love the bloke and I was there for his debut and then saw the boys at the airport the next morning seeing my little sis back off to Mexico

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

I can't remember the last time Rowdy broke the line and got open ….

 

[gallagher]

Nothing negative about this guy. Very classy.

And I dont care what anyone says, THE best line runner in the game.

Best line runner and best one on one hitter.

I think most of us, myself included have forgotten his first half of the year in 2016\. He was great. Like Geo said, it took its toll on him later in the year and thats because he was poorly managed by Taylor. Most of us just remember that he wasnt great late in the year. Physically he wasnt up to playing 80 minutes week in week out in the backrow. When he was fresh early in the season he was the form backrower in the competition. I think he may just surprise a few people this year. Especially if he isnt made to play 80 minutes. Can you imagine his hole running on the edge if we can learn to win the ruck? He would be a weapon. And when fresh, there wouldnt be a better protector of our halves defensively.

But that's the problem in the end , one of our backrowers and preferably two have to play 80 minutes every week

When you are subbing a hooker twice , rotating your props , and a backrower it doesn't leave much for injuries

And we are the king for injuries , more often than not because we lack size in our forwards

Yeh i agree. Its difficult not having 80 minute backrowers.

Im not sure what the answer is. The only guy i see getting through 80 on the edge is Elijah. But like we talked about previously, is he big enough and will we miss his workrate in the middle too much???

Life would be easier with an 80 minute hooker IMO.

Halatua was great for us last year going between hooker and back row,If only he was a few years younger.

 

[Geo]

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

They don't really grow ripe on the backrower's tree a dime a dozen do they,,

Jason Taumalolo..off contract…would be the only backrower that fits that bill...even he spends time on the bench..

Who else that's available..?

 

[happy_tiger]

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

They don't really grow ripe on the backrower's tree a dime a dozen do they,,

Jason Taumalolo..off contract…would be the only backrower that fits that bill...even he spends time on the bench..

Who else that's available..?

Availability means little in the modern game , it is going to get to the stage within 5-10 years that more players will have contracts broken or break them than see them out

Look maybe this is looking at our problems from a different angle , but why can't we use a player in defence playing in the middle and then use them on an edge in attack

Sue could defend in the middle and then be used on an edge in attack

Even Rowdy could defend in the middle , just thinking outside the square , something we will need to do in the coming season

 

[Paris_Cobbs]

Hey, be careful who you label a 'club legend'! That's a death sentence at Wests Tigers. Ask Benji and Robbie….

 

[Geo]

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

They don't really grow ripe on the backrower's tree a dime a dozen do they,,

Jason Taumalolo..off contract…would be the only backrower that fits that bill...even he spends time on the bench..

Who else that's available..?

Availability means little in the modern game , it is going to get to the stage within 5-10 years that more players will have contracts broken or break them than see them out

Look maybe this is looking at our problems from a different angle , but why can't we use a player in defence playing in the middle and then use them on an edge in attack

Sue could defend in the middle and then be used on an edge in attack

Even Rowdy could defend in the middle , just thinking outside the square , something we will need to do in the coming season

I'm still waiting for a few names…

 

[king_sirro]

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

They don't really grow ripe on the backrower's tree a dime a dozen do they,,

Jason Taumalolo..off contract…would be the only backrower that fits that bill...even he spends time on the bench..

Who else that's available..?

Availability means little in the modern game , it is going to get to the stage within 5-10 years that more players will have contracts broken or break them than see them out

Look maybe this is looking at our problems from a different angle , but why can't we use a player in defence playing in the middle and then use them on an edge in attack

Sue could defend in the middle and then be used on an edge in attack

Even Rowdy could defend in the middle , just thinking outside the square , something we will need to do in the coming season

Thats not a bad idea. I think we certainly need to come up with a solution to play our backrowers longer and keep them as sharp as possible. No use saying Elijah and Rowdy your playing 80 mins so do your best at the back end of the game. Working out a system where the backrowers can swap from the middle to the edge at times will help them get through it more effectively. I like the idea.

 

[Nelson]

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

They don't really grow ripe on the backrower's tree a dime a dozen do they,,

Jason Taumalolo..off contract…would be the only backrower that fits that bill...even he spends time on the bench..

Who else that's available..?

Availability means little in the modern game , it is going to get to the stage within 5-10 years that more players will have contracts broken or break them than see them out

Look maybe this is looking at our problems from a different angle , but why can't we use a player in defence playing in the middle and then use them on an edge in attack

Sue could defend in the middle and then be used on an edge in attack

Even Rowdy could defend in the middle , just thinking outside the square , something we will need to do in the coming season

I'm still waiting for a few names…

Bodene Thompson, Tohu Harris

 

[Nelson]

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

They don't really grow ripe on the backrower's tree a dime a dozen do they,,

Jason Taumalolo..off contract…would be the only backrower that fits that bill...even he spends time on the bench..

Who else that's available..?

Availability means little in the modern game , it is going to get to the stage within 5-10 years that more players will have contracts broken or break them than see them out

Look maybe this is looking at our problems from a different angle , but why can't we use a player in defence playing in the middle and then use them on an edge in attack

Sue could defend in the middle and then be used on an edge in attack

Even Rowdy could defend in the middle , just thinking outside the square , something we will need to do in the coming season

Thats not a bad idea. I think we certainly need to come up with a solution to play our backrowers longer and keep them as sharp as possible. No use saying Elijah and Rowdy your playing 80 mins so do your best at the back end of the game. Working out a system where the backrowers can swap from the middle to the edge at times will help them get through it more effectively. I like the idea.

8\. Woods (plays ~50 mins in 2 stints)
9\. Ballin (plays ~50 mins straight out)
10\. Sue (plays ~40 mins in 2 equal stints at high impact)
11\. Felise (plays ~50 mins in 2 stint swith 30 on an edge and 15 in the middle)
12\. Lawrence (plays ~65 mins straight out)
13\. ET (plays 80 mins ~15 of which is on an edge, being at the end when he'll be most tired)

14\. Liddle (plays ~30 mins straight out)
15\. Ava (plays ~40 mins straight out but with a HT break)
16\. Grant (plays ~30 mins straight out but with a HT break)
17\. MCK (plays 50 mins straight out but with a HT break)

20 mins - Sue off and Ava on at 8
30 mins - Woods off and Grant on at 10
30 mins - Felise off and MCK on at 11
50 mins - Ballin off and Liddle on at 9
60 mins - Ava off and Sue on at 10
60 mins - Grant off and Woods on at 8
65 mins - Lawrence off with ET to 12 and Felise on at 13

That leaves a spare interchange and the only forward having to play 80 is ET, some of which is on the edge. Given we don't have an 80 minute hooker and neither Ballin nor Liddle would be much good filling in at second row I think we're probably going to need to have MCK on the bench this year and either Aloiai or Felise will probably be the one to miss out on the 17 (assuming everyone is fit).

 

[happy_tiger]

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

They don't really grow ripe on the backrower's tree a dime a dozen do they,,

Jason Taumalolo..off contract…would be the only backrower that fits that bill...even he spends time on the bench..

Who else that's available..?

Just a few options for you

Ryan James
Matt Gillett
Paul Gallen
Jason Taumalolo
Sam Thaiday
Josh Papalii
Elliott Whitehead
Sam Burgess
Simon Mannering
SBW

Enough ??

 

[jadtiger]

I really do like lawrence and he tries his guts out each and every week but he would not be a starter at any other club.His potential was as an excellent centre probably the best in the world but his terrible injury destroyed that.He has come back to unfortunately be only a great clubman and makeshift worker in the 2nd row.We need far more players with his attitude in the club but he is not first grade these days as sad as it is.
We need better

 

[jirskyr]

Best line runner and best one on one hitter.

I think most of us, myself included have forgotten his first half of the year in 2016\. He was great. Like Geo said, it took its toll on him later in the year and thats because he was poorly managed by Taylor. Most of us just remember that he wasnt great late in the year. Physically he wasnt up to playing 80 minutes week in week out in the backrow. When he was fresh early in the season he was the form backrower in the competition. I think he may just surprise a few people this year. Especially if he isnt made to play 80 minutes. Can you imagine his hole running on the edge if we can learn to win the ruck? He would be a weapon. And when fresh, there wouldnt be a better protector of our halves defensively.

But that's the problem in the end , one of our backrowers and preferably two have to play 80 minutes every week

When you are subbing a hooker twice , rotating your props , and a backrower it doesn't leave much for injuries

And we are the king for injuries , more often than not because we lack size in our forwards

Yeh i agree. Its difficult not having 80 minute backrowers.

Im not sure what the answer is. The only guy i see getting through 80 on the edge is Elijah. But like we talked about previously, is he big enough and will we miss his workrate in the middle too much???

Life would be easier with an 80 minute hooker IMO.

Don't get me wrong ,love the bloke and I was there for his debut and then saw the boys at the airport the next morning seeing my little sis back off to Mexico

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

I can't remember the last time Rowdy broke the line and got open ….

Josh Aloiai? I don't see why we can't have one Rowdy-type frame in second-row, decent motor, good lines, good 1-1 defender, smart football brain.

Lawrence averaged 95m and 27 tackles per game in 2016\. It's not the 100 m and 35 tackles you want, but I took a quick look at the top backrowers and NOBODY gets those kind of stats. If they make metres they don't do so many tackles and vice versa.

Cordner 142 m 27 tackles
Jackson 92 m 35 tackles
Greg Eastwood 79 m 23 tackles (just to look at a big unit backrower)
Wade Graham 122 m 27 tackles
Frizell 95 m 34 tackles
Gillett 80 m 39 tackles
Thaiday 86 m 25 tackles
Elliott Whitehead 81 m 39 tackles

Lawrence compares favourably enough with the above footballers, whilst not being generally considered as good as most of them. Actually apart from Cordner and Graham, Rowdy's average metres are quite strong and Graham gets a lot of ball out-wide in the backline, which I feel pushes up his metres.

Anyway not saying he's got the mix right just yet, but I don't see why he can't be an effective contributor with solid defence, willingness to take hitups and effectiveness in backline hole running.

 

[Geo]

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

They don't really grow ripe on the backrower's tree a dime a dozen do they,,

Jason Taumalolo..off contract…would be the only backrower that fits that bill...even he spends time on the bench..

Who else that's available..?

Just a few options for you

Ryan James
Matt Gillett
Paul Gallen
Jason Taumalolo
Sam Thaiday
Josh Papalii
Elliott Whitehead
Sam Burgess
Simon Mannering
SBW

Enough ??

Better …sign them all ...except Mannering..tackle machine for sure bit doesn't fit your attack criteria..you got some Props in there and blokes who don't play 80 and spend time on the bench but I forgive you..

 

[Harvey]

Best line runner and best one on one hitter.

I think most of us, myself included have forgotten his first half of the year in 2016\. He was great. Like Geo said, it took its toll on him later in the year and thats because he was poorly managed by Taylor. Most of us just remember that he wasnt great late in the year. Physically he wasnt up to playing 80 minutes week in week out in the backrow. When he was fresh early in the season he was the form backrower in the competition. I think he may just surprise a few people this year. Especially if he isnt made to play 80 minutes. Can you imagine his hole running on the edge if we can learn to win the ruck? He would be a weapon. And when fresh, there wouldnt be a better protector of our halves defensively.

But that's the problem in the end , one of our backrowers and preferably two have to play 80 minutes every week

When you are subbing a hooker twice , rotating your props , and a backrower it doesn't leave much for injuries

And we are the king for injuries , more often than not because we lack size in our forwards

Yeh i agree. Its difficult not having 80 minute backrowers.

Im not sure what the answer is. The only guy i see getting through 80 on the edge is Elijah. But like we talked about previously, is he big enough and will we miss his workrate in the middle too much???

Life would be easier with an 80 minute hooker IMO.

Don't get me wrong ,love the bloke and I was there for his debut and then saw the boys at the airport the next morning seeing my little sis back off to Mexico

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

I can't remember the last time Rowdy broke the line and got open ….

Is a shame he gets to run off Brooks' hospital passes rather than Moses side of the field

 

[happy_tiger]

But that's the problem in the end , one of our backrowers and preferably two have to play 80 minutes every week

When you are subbing a hooker twice , rotating your props , and a backrower it doesn't leave much for injuries

And we are the king for injuries , more often than not because we lack size in our forwards

Yeh i agree. Its difficult not having 80 minute backrowers.

Im not sure what the answer is. The only guy i see getting through 80 on the edge is Elijah. But like we talked about previously, is he big enough and will we miss his workrate in the middle too much???

Life would be easier with an 80 minute hooker IMO.

Don't get me wrong ,love the bloke and I was there for his debut and then saw the boys at the airport the next morning seeing my little sis back off to Mexico

But we can't carry him after 2017 , we need a 105-110 kg backrower who can make 35+ tackles and 100 + metres with some line breaks if required and dint the line in the red zone

I can't remember the last time Rowdy broke the line and got open ….

Josh Aloiai? I don't see why we can't have one Rowdy-type frame in second-row, decent motor, good lines, good 1-1 defender, smart football brain.

Lawrence averaged 95m and 27 tackles per game in 2016\. It's not the 100 m and 35 tackles you want, but I took a quick look at the top backrowers and NOBODY gets those kind of stats. If they make metres they don't do so many tackles and vice versa.

Cordner 142 m 27 tackles
Jackson 92 m 35 tackles
Greg Eastwood 79 m 23 tackles (just to look at a big unit backrower)
Wade Graham 122 m 27 tackles
Frizell 95 m 34 tackles
Gillett 80 m 39 tackles
Thaiday 86 m 25 tackles
Elliott Whitehead 81 m 39 tackles

Lawrence compares favourably enough with the above footballers, whilst not being generally considered as good as most of them. Actually apart from Cordner and Graham, Rowdy's average metres are quite strong and Graham gets a lot of ball out-wide in the backline, which I feel pushes up his metres.

Anyway not saying he's got the mix right just yet, but I don't see why he can't be an effective contributor with solid defence, willingness to take hitups and effectiveness in backline hole running.

Most of the players you listed would have at least one line break a game , when was Rowdy's last line break ??

And he hits the hole yes , but doesn't dint the line anymore , he lacks the size ,power and speed to do so