Lawrence relieved to be back in action
Ian McCullough
July 9, 2011 - 10:44AM
AAP
Less than four months after fearing his NRL career may be over, a relieved Chris Lawrence has vowed to recapture his best form after returning for the Wests Tigers.
The classy centre dislocated his hip in round three against Canberra, curtailing his NSW State of Origin hopes, with medics predicting the serious injury would rule him out for the season.
But a combination of hard work and a desire to prove people wrong saw Lawrence take the field against Parramatta on Friday night and, although disappointed by the Tigers' 22-6 loss, the 23-year-old admitted he was delighted to be back.
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"I felt pretty good," Lawrence said.
"Every now and then I felt myself blowing a bit but after three months on the sidelines I expected that.
"I felt pretty good and my fitness felt pretty good.
"There was no issue with the strength in my leg, it was more of a timing thing in defence and in attack but that will come back."
Lawrence said he had no psychological concerns about the injury when he took his first hit-up and revealed that fears he may require a hip replacement in later life had also dissipated.
"I did a lot of contact before I came into this game, it wasn't really an issue," he said.
"I just wanted to get through the game and not blow out towards the end.
"I am 100 per cent fit football-wise and about 90 per cent there fitness-wise but that will return in a few games and should be back to my best soon.
"Some days it is sore, but that is because I am doing so much rehab work on it and days when I am not doing rehab I am doing strength work on it.
"There is a slight chance that I have to keep monitoring it, the doctor said that if the top of the hip bone stops blood getting to it, long-term it would mean I need a hip replacement.
"But the signs are now that there is a 99 per cent chance that won't happen."
