Olympian's tragic loss fuels NRL switch with Dragons
Nathan Lawson reckoned he had 80 family members and friends crammed into the grandstand at Jubilee Oval as the two-time Olympian made his NRL debut.
But there was one person missing on Friday as the rugby sevens convert got his first taste of first grade action on the left wing in St George Illawarra's 20-6 win over Newcastle.
Late last year, just before he was about to embark on one of his final sevens tour events - and weeks out from switching codes and landing at the Dragons - Lawson received the news that his mother, Karen, had died.
"In December, we lost mum, that was hard, it was a week before I was meant to come down to Dragons," Lawson said.
"So it meant a lot to me that all the boys and everyone at the club, who I didn't even know, went out of their way to support me.
"For that to happen and for them to be so welcoming to me meant a lot.
"She was my biggest supporter and would do anything to come watch me play.
"She would travel across the world to watch me play so to be able to get a good win and make my debut, I'm sure she's up there very happy."
To give an indication of Lawson's standing in the shortened format of rugby union, he was named Australia's sevens player of 2024 and was picked in the World Rugby team of the year.
And while he has played for Australia at Olympics in Tokyo and Paris - and everywhere in between on the whistle-stop sevens circuit - he was a bag of nerves as he drove to Kogarah.
"It was a long day for me thinking about every possibility of what could happen," Lawson said.
"I was very happy to get out there and get my first carry under the belt.
"The biggest thing for me is that I had all my friends and family there, I've played so many games across the world, and you don't get your family there."
Lawson didn't even play league as a junior and has spent the first half of 2025 in NSW Cup.
But he acquitted himself admirably when he stepped up into the NRL, making one eye-catching linebreak that had the Dragons fans out of their seats.
He is likely to drop out of the Dragons' side for next week's clash with the Dolphins as winger Christian Tuipulotu nears a return to fitness from a hamstring injury.
"I understand how competitive this sport is and we've got some unbelievable players at this club," Lawson added.
"If that means I play (NSW) Cup for the rest of the year, I'm more than happy to do it."
Meanwhile, the Dragons confirmed on Monday that back-rower Jaydn Su'A will miss this weekend's clash with the Dolphins with a low-grade ankle sprain.
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