Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Lawrence taking flight with the Sea Eagles
Jon Tuxworth
SPORTS REPORTER AT THE CANBERRA TIMES
He's the late bloomer who has taken the NRL by storm, but Manly prop Brenton Lawrence could have been lost to the game years ago had it not been for some timely advice from Canberra coach David Furner.
As Raiders premier league coach in 2005, Furner was shell-shocked when Lawrence told him he was putting football on the back-burner to concentrate on his university degree. Convinced of his potential to play NRL, Furner urged Lawrence to stay involved when he confronted him in the club gym. Lawrence heeded that advice and spent two years as captain-coach of Woden Valley Rams, before finally cracking the NRL with Gold Coast in 2011.
After 18 games with the Titans, Lawrence has proven one of the bargain buys of the season for Manly, starting every game alongside Brent Kite in the front row.
Lawrence signed with Canberra as an outside back as a 17-year-old, but it was Furner who noted his potential as a forward and shifted him to the pack.
Furner couldn't be happier for a player and person he rates highly, but only has himself to blame should Lawrence tear his side apart at Brookvale Oval on Saturday night.
''He wanted to finish his degree [arts with international relations major] and I was disappointed because I thought he had a lot of potential to play first grade,'' Furner said.
''I said, 'Do yourself a favour and still play rugby league', play in the local competition and at least you can go back to it.''
Furner's decision to shift him to prop was a slice of wisdom he was reluctant to accept. Almost a decade later it's proven a masterstroke, the 28-year-old establishing himself as a key man in the Sea Eagles' revered pack.
''I love it [prop] now but at the time I didn't want to, I don't mind admitting that,'' Lawrence said.
''At the time I didn't think it was a good move, but everyone said you won't be a good front-rower until you're a bit older.
''I was young, and I guess I should have had more trust in what they were doing back then.
''I always said if I am to be a front-rower, I want to be the fastest one in the game.''
His experience as a centre or winger has allowed him to achieve that aim. At the Titans last year, he was equal-fastest over 40 metres with noted speedster David Mead. This season, he broke
Manly workhorse Matt Ballin's beep-test record, before the hooker reclaimed it a week later. ''He was unbelievable in the 40s [at Canberra] and things like that, he was always first,'' Furner said.
''His speed doesn't surprise me because I've seen it all before, I've watched him take kick-offs and run the length of the field.''
His stint at the Rams has taught Lawrence to cherish every NRL game he plays. But he could be flying planes instead of lining up for one of the competition's high-flyers had fate not intervened.
''I graduated from University of Canberra and was very close to joining the Air Force,'' he said
Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/lawrence-taking-flight-with-the-sea-eagles-20130522-2k1mr.html#ixzz2U6wOiq9u
Jon Tuxworth
SPORTS REPORTER AT THE CANBERRA TIMES
He's the late bloomer who has taken the NRL by storm, but Manly prop Brenton Lawrence could have been lost to the game years ago had it not been for some timely advice from Canberra coach David Furner.
As Raiders premier league coach in 2005, Furner was shell-shocked when Lawrence told him he was putting football on the back-burner to concentrate on his university degree. Convinced of his potential to play NRL, Furner urged Lawrence to stay involved when he confronted him in the club gym. Lawrence heeded that advice and spent two years as captain-coach of Woden Valley Rams, before finally cracking the NRL with Gold Coast in 2011.
After 18 games with the Titans, Lawrence has proven one of the bargain buys of the season for Manly, starting every game alongside Brent Kite in the front row.
Lawrence signed with Canberra as an outside back as a 17-year-old, but it was Furner who noted his potential as a forward and shifted him to the pack.
Furner couldn't be happier for a player and person he rates highly, but only has himself to blame should Lawrence tear his side apart at Brookvale Oval on Saturday night.
''He wanted to finish his degree [arts with international relations major] and I was disappointed because I thought he had a lot of potential to play first grade,'' Furner said.
''I said, 'Do yourself a favour and still play rugby league', play in the local competition and at least you can go back to it.''
Furner's decision to shift him to prop was a slice of wisdom he was reluctant to accept. Almost a decade later it's proven a masterstroke, the 28-year-old establishing himself as a key man in the Sea Eagles' revered pack.
''I love it [prop] now but at the time I didn't want to, I don't mind admitting that,'' Lawrence said.
''At the time I didn't think it was a good move, but everyone said you won't be a good front-rower until you're a bit older.
''I was young, and I guess I should have had more trust in what they were doing back then.
''I always said if I am to be a front-rower, I want to be the fastest one in the game.''
His experience as a centre or winger has allowed him to achieve that aim. At the Titans last year, he was equal-fastest over 40 metres with noted speedster David Mead. This season, he broke
Manly workhorse Matt Ballin's beep-test record, before the hooker reclaimed it a week later. ''He was unbelievable in the 40s [at Canberra] and things like that, he was always first,'' Furner said.
''His speed doesn't surprise me because I've seen it all before, I've watched him take kick-offs and run the length of the field.''
His stint at the Rams has taught Lawrence to cherish every NRL game he plays. But he could be flying planes instead of lining up for one of the competition's high-flyers had fate not intervened.
''I graduated from University of Canberra and was very close to joining the Air Force,'' he said
Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/lawrence-taking-flight-with-the-sea-eagles-20130522-2k1mr.html#ixzz2U6wOiq9u
