Latest news with #NathanLawson
The Advertiser
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
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. 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. 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.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
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. View this post on Instagram A post shared by St George Illawarra Dragons (@nrl_dragons) 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.
West Australian
a day ago
- Sport
- West Australian
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.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
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.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
NRL 2025 LIVE: Dragons host Knights to kick off round 13
Loading Latest posts Latest posts 7.34pm Origin I the most watched show of 2025 By Adrian Proszenko The opening State of Origin match was the most watched TV program of the year after an 11.2 per cent spike in viewership from the corresponding match last year. Loading A national average audience of 3.755 million tuned in to watch NSW take a 1-0 lead in the series – a figure 38 per cent more than the next most-watched program of 2025, ABC's election coverage. The Blues' 18-6 victory was the highest-rating interstate clash since 2016 after it secured a national total television reach of 5.449 million. The game broke streaming records for Nine Now, attracting 963,000 viewers, beating the previous record by 11 per cent. That makes it the second-highest rating BVOD (Broadcast Video on Demand) program of all time after a 26.7 per cent rise on last year's Origin series opener. 7.21pm Dragons v Knights team lists Dragons Former Australian Sevens star Nathan Lawson will make his NRL debut on the wing for the Dragons. Toby Couchman and Blake Lawrie replace Jack de Belin and Luciano Leilua in the starting pack. Valentine Holmes will back up from Origin I. 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 21. Nathan Lawson 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 17. Blake Lawrie 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 15. Toby Couchman 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Hamish Stewart. Bench: 8. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 14. Jacob Liddle 16. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga Knights Kalyn Ponga is a late out for Newcastle after playing in State of Origin on Wednesday night. Fletcher Sharpe moves to fullback with Jack Cogger joining Tyson Gamble in the halves. 6. Fletcher Sharpe 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Kyle McCarthy 5. Fletcher Hunt 18. Jack Cogger 7. Tyson Gamble 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Mathew Croker. Bench: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Thomas Cant 7.21pm Welcome Hello and welcome to our coverage of Friday night footy, with St George Illawarra taking on the Knights at Jubilee Stadium. We've already had two doses of State of Origin this week, with the NSW men getting the job done in Brisbane on Wednesday before the Queensland women prevailed in Newcastle on Thursday, and now round 13 of the NRL season kicks off with an intriguing battle of two last-start winners. Shane Flanagan's Dragons had made an impressive start to the season before a three-game losing streak against the Roosters, Tigers and Warriors, but bounced back to stun the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium ahead of last week's bye. Newcastle meanwhile had lost seven of their past eight games before last week's win over Penrith in Bathurst. Which of these bottom-eight sides will put together back-to-back wins and get their campaign back on track?
