Lawton: I’m ready to step in for Luke
David Skipwith
Two-try Warriors debutant Karl Lawton declared himself ready to step up again if hooker Issac Luke is ruled out of Saturday’s NRL clash against the Sydney Roosters.
Lawton came off the bench to make his first club appearance at dummy half after Luke dislocated his shoulder in the 55th minute of the 26-4 win over Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night.
The 22-year-old wasted no time in impressing his new teammates and fans after Luke’s departure.
The lively No 9 dashed through a gap to score in the 67th minute.
He then went one better by helping seal the result by sneaking over from close range for his second fourpointer three minutes later. “It was a bit surreal,” said Lawton. “One of the boys threw a good offload and I just happened to be there at the right time and scooted over.
“The other one was off a quick play-the-ball and I just ducked over for a quick one.”
Lawton’s impressive performance helped erase bad memories of other days at Mt Smart.
He suffered a broken leg on the same ground in his NRL debut for the Titans in the 2016 Anzac Day match against the Warriors.
That setback continued a run of bad luck for him at the Penrose venue after he had suffered a string of injuries while playing against the Warriors during his junior days.
“Thank God I got out there for once without getting injured, so I’m pretty stoked with that,” he said.
“Through the under-20s as well, I used to get an injury when I came here, so I’m glad to get that demon off my back.”
With Luke in doubt to play next week after dislocating his shoulder against the Tigers, Lawton was excited at the prospect of being called on to start in the hooking role against the Roosters.
The versatile youngster was signed by the Warriors on a two-year deal after Nathaniel Roache was ruled out for the year with a back injury just a week before the season started.
The knockabout Australian is also capable of filling in at lock or centre and recently played in the halves and at hooker for the Warriors reserve grade team.
“If the opportunity comes, I’ll take it with both arms.
“I’d love to slot in there like a regular first grader,” he said.