NO NEED FOR LAWRENCE LUCK IN SECOND COMING
BRENTON Lawrence’s first stint as a Gold Coast NRL player came about completely by chance. His second coming as a Titan is the result of anything but luck.
The Mackay-born prop enjoyed a meteoric rise from obscurity in the 12 months leading up to his first grade debut for the Coast in June 2011.
Having toiled year after year in the Canberra system for little reward, Lawrence was resigned to his football dream being over when he applied in advance to begin working in the air force from 2011. It was in the time leading up to his start date in Brisbane that fate intervened, as Burleigh boss Damian Driscoll recalls.
“It was about June (2010) that he stopped off here,” Driscoll said.
“He’s good mates with (then Bears hooker) Scott Smith … so he stayed and played here for the rest of the year just to play footy.”
In those late-season games, Lawrence shone and a Titans train-and-trial opportunity was subsequently teed up for the 2011 pre-season.
More starring performances at Queensland Cup level – combined with an injury-cursed
NRL pack – led to his big opportunity arriving in Round 16 that year.
After 18 games in 18 months for the Titans, he switched to Manly where he has established himself as a top grade starter. Now, on Sunday, he will play his 99th NRL match.
Such has been his form that at 32, he attracted Gold Coast’s interest to complete a full circle and return to the Titans on a two-year deal starting in 2018.
Titans coach Neil Henry, who knew Lawrence from his Canberra days, praised the late bloomer who will bring much-needed experience to their ranks.
“Our starting frontrowers are only 26 years old so we are a young team … he does fill the void left by (departing veteran Chris McQueen) who did a fantastic job here in the leadership role,” Henry said.
Gold Coast are soon expected to announce their next signing: Jai Arrow.