Daine Laurie has opened up on his Wests Tigers exit and why it was an “easy decision” to return to the Panthers — even when it is just on a one-year deal.
In an interview with foxsports.com.au the 24-year-old agreed that final season was “100 per cent” his most difficult since breaking into the NRL.
Laurie went from being a joint winner of the Tigers’ Kelly-Barnes Medal in 2021 and being voted Players’ Player in 2022 to shedding his spot within the 17 to a rookie in 2023.
Watch sport this summer time reside with no advert breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and begin streaming immediately >
The Tigers had been fascinated with hanging onto him however solely on a one-year deal.
The Panthers solely had one 12 months to supply too, however Laurie couldn’t go up the prospect to get on board with the three-peat champions and return to the place his profession started
Panthers introduced with customized WWE belt | 01:27
“I wanted a couple of years but they weren’t offering it,” Laurie stated.
“As soon as Penrith offered to sign me I took it with both hands even though it’s only one year too. To be with a team like Penrith, it’s hard to say no to.”
The Grafton Ghosts junior first joined the Panthers’ system when he performed for his or her SG Ball aspect in 2017. He rose up the ranks to make his NRL debut in 2020 earlier than signing with the Tigers in a bid to develop into a “regular first-grader.”
Laurie acquired precisely that. He performed 19 video games in every of his first two seasons and went into 2023 extra assured than ever.
In reality, in an interview with foxsports.com.au final February, Laurie declared “I reckon this will probably be one of my best years.”
But Laurie’s season didn’t go to plan.
He began the 12 months at fullback however he had an thrilling younger participant by the identify of Jahream Bula sizzling on his heels. In that very same interview final February Laurie really stated “you never know you might see him play first grade” when requested about Bula.
An knee damage suffered in Round 2 was the start of the tip for Laurie on the Tigers. Charlie Staines changed him at fullback at first, then Adam Doueihi had a stint there earlier than 20-year-old Bula was unleashed in Round 8.
MORE NRL NEWS
TIGERS REBUILD: Benji’s $6m Luai coup poses extra questions than solutions
WHISPERS: Bulldogs’ bid to poach Roosters enforcer on multi-year deal
‘UNPREDICTABILITY’: NRL publicizes main rule change for 2024
NEW ERA: Inside Panthers’ halves battle and the way Luai name adjustments every little thing
STAT RANKINGS: We crunched the numbers over previous two seasons in all key stats
From that time on the No.1 jersey was Bula’s and Laurie was pressured to bide his time in New South Wales Cup.
“That injury interrupted my season,” Laurie stated.
“I had heaps of confidence, I had a good pre-season leading into it. I just got unlucky.
“And then Jahream just started carving up so it was hard to get back into that fullback position.
“I just stayed patient and looking back all I did was just play footy and tried hard in Cup.
“When I first went over there (to the Tigers) I played nearly the whole year and the second year too. I kind of got hit with a bit of adversity.”
When requested if that impacted his confidence, Laurie stated: “Yeah a little bit at the start but I love ‘Reamy’. He was carving up and I was really happy for him.”
Laurie has genuinely been so impressed by Bula — who gained the Kelly Barnes Medal in his rookie season — that he expects him to develop into “one of the best fullbacks in the next couple of years.”
“He’s a freak. He was the fittest fulla there, he was ripping in at the gym,” Laurie added.
“I knew if he got the chance it’s going to be hard to take the spot off him.”
Titans tipping Brimson to star in 2024 | 00:58
Laurie ultimately pressured his approach again into first grade to play 9 extra video games for the Tigers— a few of these within the halves.
He has taken a liking to enjoying five-eighth and now prefers it over fullback.
“I liked fullback but when I played a little bit of five-eighth (I enjoyed it). I like five-eighth (more) now. You get your hands on the ball first instead of getting it out the back of a block,” he stated.
It’s the fitting time to transition into the halves too given Penrith’s No.6 jersey shall be up for grabs in 2025 when Jarome Luai joins the Tigers.
When requested if he needs that place, Laurie stated: “Yeah, we’ll see what happens.”
There’s a superb probability he would’ve answered with extra confidence if Penrith’s new halves recruit Brad Schneider, who can also be vying for that spot, wasn’t listening in.
But first Laurie might want to safe an extension.
He’s been coaching at five-eighth, fullback and on the wing and his versatility will little doubt are available in hand because the Panthers chase their fourth straight premiership.
Laurie stated being on a one-year deal “doesn’t worry” him as a result of he’s “happy as being here.”
“There’s mad vibes around the club. I can’t wipe the smile off my face to be honest,” he added.
“All the boys love coming into training, we get flogged but the boys don’t complain. We just get in there and get it done. And we can all have a laugh too.
“You can tell they all love each other because they always hang out, it shows on the field so I reckon that’s a big one just how tight they are.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
