How Wests Tigers Daine Laurie went from NRL reserve grader to potential Dally M Rookie of the Year contender

Sam Walker and Reece Walsh may be getting all the hype, but it’s a $150k bargain buy that could still streak home to win the Dally M Rookie gong in 2021.

Daine Laurie is making a serious splash. Picture: Getty Images

Daine Laurie was so convinced he would be playing reserve grade with Penrith this year, he still lives across the road from Panthers Stadium.

“Yep, straight across,” he grins.

With good reason, too.

“At the start of the year, they weren’t releasing me,” the Wests Tigers No.1 continues.

“They were saying the whole time that they weren’t going to release me so I thought I’d be playing (Panthers NSW Cup) this year.

“So that’s why I signed another 12-month lease … and now I’m there until the end of the year.”

Unthinkable back in January when he extended his stay on that property opposite Panthers Stadium, Laurie will next Friday night take on his old club as one of the leading contenders for both NRL Bargain Buy of the Year and Dally M Rookie of the Year.

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Daine Laurie was a standout for the Tigers, scoring a try and playing a hand in several others. Picture: Getty Images.

The best $150,000 Wests Tigers ever spent?

It certainly seems that way.

Especially after this proud Bundjalung boy went and used Indigenous Round to continue his undeniable rise and rise.

Which isn’t to say St George Illawarra were at their best.

But while the Dragons may have been missing a couple of big names, 21-year-old Laurie completely tore up what was left as he scored one try, assisted in two more, made five tackle busts, one linebreak and ran for 152m.

Better, the young livewire celebrated his try with the same ‘kangaroo ears’ celebration that has become a signature for South Sydney poster boy Latrell Mitchell.

Quizzed afterwards about the move, he laughed: “Yeah, sorry about that Trell.

“I stole that off him but it looked good.

“And it’s something I wanted to do.

“Especially on this weekend, just to show how proud I am of my culture.

“This is my first time playing Indigenous Round and it’s been a big week for us Indigenous fellas.”

So as for who he thinks is currently leading the race for NRL Rookie?

“Sammy Walker,” he says, referencing the Roosters No.7. “He’s killing it at the moment. Going unreal.

“Same with Reece Walsh at the Warriors.

“It’s great to see all them young fellas playing good.”

While Penrith currently sit atop the NRL table, Wests Tigers will at least get to play them at Leichhardt Oval — and on a weekend when the Panthers are expected to have several players out for the opening State of Origin game.

“But it’s still going to be a tough game,” Laurie continues. “They’ll have a couple of the Origin boys out but we can’t take them lightly.

Is Daine Laurie the leading rookie for 2021? Picture: Getty Images

“We’ll have to start fast.

“Turn up for each other.”

Anyone you need to watch out for?

“Big Kicks,” he laughs of Panthers backrower Viliame Kikau. “I’ve got to watch him.

“But their whole squad really is playing unreal.

“And I’m actually still mates with all of them.

“They’re a tight-knit group at Penrith, that’s why they go so well.

“And playing against my mates who I’ve known since SG Ball, it will be good.”

Elsewhere, Laurie also paid tribute to the cousin whose homemade highlights video of him Panthers boss Phil Gould first saw all those years ago — “without her making that video I wouldn’t be here” — and also came clean on another yarn Gould revealed in commentary, about him regularly stopping to play with kids he sees playing footy at the park.

“Yeah, 100 per cent I do,” Lauries confirms. “I just have a run around and kick the ball with them.”

Daine Laurie continues to impress for the West Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

MATCH REPORT

—Martin Gabor

The Wests Tigers must wish they played the Dragons and Knights every week after they chalked up a fourth win against the two clubs to sensationally move within two points of the top eight.

The 34-18 result was the second time this month they’d beaten the Red V, with their fans standing up to cheer them off at half-time just weeks after they vented their frustration in incredible scenes at Leichhardt Oval.

The only problem for Michael Maguire’s side is they are winless in their other eight games ahead of next week’s grudge clash against the unbeaten Panthers at Leichhardt Oval.

Inconsistency has defined their season, but they only have to look at Friday night’s performance for the blueprint needed to stay in the hunt as the teams around them start to slip up.

The Tigers may have finally shaken off their inconsistencies after a dominant win over the Dragons. Picture: Getty Images.

“I think they are where they are,” Maguire said when asked how his team was placed at the midway point of the season.

“I’m not going to make any statements, but what I do know is they are growing within. To watch them enjoy what they did was pleasing as a coach.

“Every week is important for us. It’s in our hands to go back to work and get ready for next week.”

The Tigers put the razzle dazzle away and instead focused on the physical stuff as they dominated the Dragons through the middle to rack up an extra 400 running metres in a lopsided first half.

Luke Brooks didn’t overplay his hand and was able to work off the platform laid by the tireless Alex Twal, who was ably supported by a fired-up Luciano Leilua playing against his former club, and the magical feet of David Nofoaluma.

DEADLY DUO

The Jet took off and the Laurie truck thundered along as two Tigers speedsters stole the show in Indigenous Round.

It’s been a difficult few years for James Roberts on and off the field, but he repaid the faith on Friday with his first double since early 2019, and just his second try in nearly two years after stints with the Broncos and Rabbitohs

Playing on the wing for the first time since 2013, Roberts showed no sign of rust from the pectoral injury that had kept him out since Anzac Day, but it’s Laurie who Tigers fans should be most excited about after he backed up to score a classic fullback’s try and then fired a bullet pass to set up Tommy Talau.

“We’re working hard in that space for our club, and they are too,” Maguire said.

“They’re getting the message out there around the Indigenous stuff at our club, and it’s nice to celebrate that with those boys scoring.”

James Roberts has worked up a sensational combination with new centre Adam Doueihi. Picture: Getty Images.

HONEYMOON OVER

The Dragons could finish the week outside the top eight after they slumped to a sixth loss from seven matches to put their season at the crossroads leading into a crunch game at home against the Broncos in Round 13.

Things looked rosy after they roared out of the blocks with four wins in the opening five rounds, but the Red V have fallen off a cliff ever since their upset win over the Eels at Bankwest Stadium.

The Dragons started the season well but have now lost six of their last seven games. Picture: Getty Images.

They returned to the scene of the crime on Friday night but fired blanks in attack as they were totally outplayed through the middle by a Tigers side that hasn’t set the world on fire in 2021.

Incredibly, no Dragons forwards cracked triple digits in a sign Jack de Belin may be rushed into the 17 to provide some spark to a pack that looked pedestrian.

“That’s the furthest thing from our minds at the moment,” Anthony Griffin said.

“We’re bitterly disappointed with what happened tonight.

“We were a bit lateral with our attack. We never gave ourselves a chance to get in the game. It’s disappointing, but we’ll fix it.”

It sets up an intriguing clash next week for Griffin whose honeymoon period is over and now faces a stern test against the club that handed him his coaching debut.

WESTS TIGERS 34 (Tries: Roberts 2, Nofoaluma, Laurie, Seyfarth, Talau & Goals: Doueihi 5/6) beat ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 18 (Tries: Wiliame, Hunt, Amone & Goals: Norman 3/3) at Bankwest Stadium.

Originally published as How Wests Tigers Daine Laurie went from NRL reserve grader to potential Dally M Rookie of the Year contender