RED V DRAGON IN LAS VEGAS 2026

[R&WTILLIDIE]

Article about the svelte Lawrie. Interesting bit in bold!

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/dragons-prop-blake-lawrie-reveals-coachs-brutal-last-on-list-warning-fuelled-transformation/news-story/ae9400997d80dae50c8d3544f14d3536

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan hit Blake Lawrie with a hard truth at the end-of-season review after the St George Illawarra prop conceded the game had moved beyond him in recent years.
“He was honest and said ‘mate you’re the last front-rower on my list in the squad’,” Lawrie said. “I was like holy … It hurt me.
“It was a tough conversation but I thanked him for looking out for my career.
“I got left behind the last 18 to 24 months in terms of how fast the game has gotten. The game has changed. It’s harder for bigger men. A lot of people were drifting out of the game. Hopefully I’ve done the work in the off-season that I am not one of them.”
The conversation left Lawrie at the crossroads despite being the Dragons’ player of the year award winner in 2023. He could either tick along the way he was going and spend much of his final season contracted at the Dragons in reserve grade or change his ways to try to rekindle his NRL career.
Following the meeting last October Lawrie and Flanagan drew up a game plan. Lawrie would spend the entire pre-Christmas period training away from the club.
Instead of slugging it out with his teammates during summer he would train with a specialised program under the guidance of Justin Lang in the Sutherland Shire. He started his pre-season on October 28.
“I feel so much better than what I did before,” Lawrie said. “I am a lot lighter and more powerful in the legs.
“I am a better athlete than what I was six months ago and I feel better about myself.
“It was a good four sessions a week sometimes five and at least three sessions a day. I went all in on the program and the training and it has paid off.”
Lawrie only rejoined his teammates in the new year. And he looks like a completely differently player. His body shape has changed significantly – while he has lost about five kilograms his body composition has been revamped. He has lost up to 12 kilograms of fat and added four kilograms of muscle.
“It was weird (not training with my teammates),” Lawrie said. “I had FOMO (fear of missing out). I like getting around the boys. I was keeping in contact with a fair few of them.
“When they had a hard session I was thinking – am I working hard enough?"
Lawrie and the Dragons split the costs to help transform his body.
“It was (a) hefty (price),” Lawrie said. “I had the conversation with my wife but I invested in myself to better myself. That’s what you have to do. I am thankful to the club for jumping on board. I’ve got massive benefit out of it. Hopefully it pays off in the 2026 season and beyond.
“I want to thank Flanno for that initial conversation. My whole focus is paying the club and myself back. It was an investment in myself and the club invested in me too.”
Lawrie has been rewarded for his hard work after being named to start off the bench in the Dragons round one clash against the Bulldogs in Las Vegas.

​

Lawrie had no idea that he was one of the worst props in the league? The whole world knew this except for Lawrie. That’ll do me.

 

[qld redvee]

Lawrie had no idea that he was one of the worst props in the league? The whole world knew this except for Lawrie. That’ll do me.

And why did it take all season b4 coaches said anything you would think they could have given him e tra fitness or diet

 

[Wolfgang90]

Bulldogs middles aren't that great. Can we try to exploit it? Fast line speed and powerful runs could do the trick imo. We kept going with unders type plays in our trials. Maybe tire out their middles through this tactic?

 

[Bayside Dragon]

Lawrie had no idea that he was one of the worst props in the league? The whole world knew this except for Lawrie.

Mate, straight to my pool room with this!!!! One of best posts I've seen in years.

Love your work.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

And why did it take all season b4 coaches said anything you would think they could have given him e tra fitness or diet

Knowing how the dragons operate, they probably didn’t want to hurt his feelings. They probably told him he was cuddly instead of flat out saying he’s a fat shit who isn’t pulling his weight on the field like we’ve all wanted to tell him.

 

[Wolfgang90]

You guys should support the bulldogs with all this dragons negativity. First game of the year, get excited. If we lose then rip in.

 

[thebigredv]

You guys should support the bulldogs with all this dragons negativity. First game of the year, get excited. If we lose then rip in.

Totally get what your saying but if you can find a place for Guler and Lawrie in your first grade team...I think it warrants complaint. Kind of know what you will get from them.

Any case I am sure we will all cheering them on and cursing like anything when they start playing Dragons footy.

 

[denis preston]

Good on us splurging a bit of cash. Maybe we can hire the bloke to ensure fitness during the season.

I’m just shitty that the club has tolerated his & Lulias body shapes the past 3 seasons & saw fit to insist on changes for the LAST year of their contracts!

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

You guys should support the bulldogs with all this dragons negativity. First game of the year, get excited. If we lose then rip in.

Dragons have been rubbish for years. We’re just being proactive

 

[Wolfgang90]

We're only a few days away from a marquee game, first game of the season and there's been soo much complaining. Atleast until gameday you lot can be a bit positive.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

We're only a few days away from a marquee game, first game of the season and there's been soo much complaining. Atleast until gameday you lot can be a bit positive.

I hear what you’re saying. No matter how negative we can be, we’re all happy to be proven wrong. But having the same 2 shit props from last year in the lineup even though we have some young blokes available is enough to make a covid patient negative.

 

[Flinstone]

Bulldogs middles aren't that great. Can we try to exploit it? Fast line speed and powerful runs could do the trick imo. We kept going with unders type plays in our trials. Maybe tire out their middles through this tactic?

Unfortunately, It appears fast line speed is not what dean young is coaching, at least it looked that way last year.
Hopefully they have made some changes.
Would like to see pressure on Galvin.

Galvin to have a shocker.

 

[thebigredv]

We're only a few days away from a marquee game, first game of the season and there's been soo much complaining. Atleast until gameday you lot can be a bit positive.

Let's hope we can find a way to beat the dogs on the big stage. Should have finished the job at least once last year but they found a way to ensure we didn't get the chocolates. Maybe 2026 we will win those types of games. Over to you, boys!

 

[The Word]

Hopefully we hit the dogs like a ton of bricks and get a roll on. We've gone from being one of the smallest teams in the comp to one of the bigger ones, however as a result we lost some mobility. I'm hoping the new body shapes we've seen will genuinely improve that mobility and finally give our halves something to work with. Let's go boys fire up.

 

[Flinstone]

Question is who will lead the boys in the victory song ?

 

[Illusion]

Question is who will lead the boys in the victory song ?

Jack can do it via Zoom .........

 

[maestro1]

I hear what you’re saying. No matter how negative we can be, we’re all happy to be proven wrong. But having the same 2 shit props from last year in the lineup even though we have some young blokes available is enough to make a covid patient negative.

I see no reason that they are still part of our NRL squad. A top 6 club would have moved them on YESTERDAY. Can you imagine they are STILL part of a team that Gus Gould has anything to do with. We are a BIG NRL club and if we don't want you, you should be GONSKI. Why, why, why, are these guys still in our squad, let alone in our run on side for such a big showcase game like Vegas. I just see absolutley no reason why these guys are still Velcro...d to us. Fxck them off.

 

[maestro1]

Let's hope we can find a way to beat the dogs on the big stage. Should have finished the job at least once last year but they found a way to ensure we didn't get the chocolates. Maybe 2026 we will win those types of games. Over to you, boys!

The NRL will be wanting a dog's win. The 6 agains and the bunker will only see each call with blue and white eyes. Who is the game manager for our game. Is it Game Manager No.1 ---------Ashley Klein, or Game Manager N0. 2 ----Gerard Sutton. And who is the Bunker Official for our game ......... Badger???

I've just checked Copilot and it names Grant Atkins as the ref for our game. Our record under Atkins is 15-0-20 (W-D-L)......(A win percentage of 42.86%).
No bunker official has yet been allocated.

 

[possm]

Bulldogs middles aren't that great. Can we try to exploit it? Fast line speed and powerful runs could do the trick imo. We kept going with unders type plays in our trials. Maybe tire out their middles through this tactic?

To do this, we would need KK and one other top prop in our 17. Gulet does not do the job and maybe Loko is injured.

We also need Reed at 7 and Atkinson at 6 to worry the Dogs backline.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

I see no reason that they are still part of our NRL squad. A top 6 club would have moved them on YESTERDAY. Can you imagine they are STILL part of a team that Gus Gould has anything to do with. We are a BIG NRL club and if we don't want you, you should be GONSKI. Why, why, why, are these guys still in our squad, let alone in our run on side for such a big showcase game like Vegas. I just see absolutley no reason why these guys are still Velcro...d to us. Fxck them off.

100 percent agree. Dragons are just happy to be part of the league. Meanwhile teams like the dogs, roosters, the riff and Melbourne are looking to win the premiership every year. We are a joke.