Wests Tigers veteran Chris Lawrence facing Leichhardt exit
It would be a tough way to leave the only club you’ve ever played for but Wests Tigers Chris Lawrence is ready to accept the salary cap might mean his future lies away from Leichhardt Oval.
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Wests Tigers veteran Chris Lawrence may have to continue his stellar career at another NRL club if the Tigers can’t afford to pay him what he is worth under the salary cap.
The Tigers will meet with Lawrence in the coming weeks to discuss the prospect of a new deal.
The joint-venture club have two roster spots remaining for the 2020 season and are currently working through their cap before making any moves.
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Lawrence is earning approximately $300,000 this season but at this point it’s unlikely the Tigers can afford to pay him a similar contract moving forward.
If the St Gregory’s College product he is unwilling to take a cut, he may have to link with a rival club to play a 15th NRL season in 2020.
Lawrence recently declared that he’d be open to joining another team if it allowed him to extend his first grade tenure.
“I’ve got a young family and if I’ve still got that desire to keep playing,” Lawrence said.
“If the opportunity is to not stay here, then I may have to look elsewhere and unfortunately that’s footy and we’ll cross that bridge if it comes.
“You don’t look too far ahead at this stage in my career but in saying that you have to look at all options.
“It’s not just about yourself but about family and they have to have an eye on post-footy when that time comes.”
Lawrence is also busy off the field as director of his business, One Wellbeing, which aims to deliver a more holistic view in respect to lending, insurance, financial advice, consulting and wellbeing.
It’s why the Tigers fan favourite doesn’t want to leave Australia for a stint in the English Super League.
“For my family it might be a good opportunity [to travel overseas] but I’ve got a business here I’ve been working hard and growing,” he said.
“It’s more selfish of me to extend my career a year or two and possibly jeopardise the next 10 years of my career in business. They’re the type of things I’ll have to weigh up.”
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Lawrence also isn’t the Tigers’ first-choice back-rower following the emergence of Michael Chee Kam and Luke Garner, plus the signing of former Roosters and Eels forward Ryan Matterson.
The likes of Matterson and Chee Kam have relegated the 236-game veteran to the bench.
Lawrence needs to weigh up if he is happy to finish his career in this position, and if not, hang up the boots.
Either way, he deserves praise for fighting back from a serious facial fracture that he suffered during pre-season training in March.
Lawrence feared his NRL career was over when an accidental head clash with teammate Russell Packer resulted in a fracture.
Thankfully revolutionary face surgery has enabled him to resume his career this season.
In nine games thus far in 2019, Lawrence has scored one try and averaged 72.3 running metres.
Originally published as Wests Tigers veteran Chris Lawrence facing Leichhardt exit
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