Huddersfield Giants' Michael Lawrence says it is a perfect 10

FOR someone who played wing earlier in his career, being awarded the No10 shirt could be slightly alarming.
Huddersfield Giants' Michael Lawrence in his previous No13 jersey last year. (ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX)Huddersfield Giants' Michael Lawrence in his previous No13 jersey last year. (ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX)
Huddersfield Giants' Michael Lawrence in his previous No13 jersey last year. (ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX)

However, Huddersfield Giants’ Michael Lawrence has no gripes with head coach Ian Watson’s decision ahead of the 2021 Super League campaign.

Since his early days as a winger/centre, the former England Knights international has, of course, largely operated as a loose forward and been the Giants’ No13 for some years.

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But Lawrence, 30, has been moved to the prop jersey following Watson’s appointment as head coach and the signing of Great Britain second-row Josh Jones from Hull FC.

Jones - who worked with Watson at Salford Red Devils - has expressed a desire to play loose forward this season and has been handed the Giants’ No13 shirt.

“If you’d told me 10 years ago I’d be lining up with number ten on my back I wouldn’t have believed you!” joked Lawrence, the industrious forward who has played almost 300 games for his hometown club and was Super League's top tackler last term.

“I spoke to Watto early on. The way our middles play in the modern game nowadays it’s all pretty similar between prop and loose if I’m honest.

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“I don’t think my role will change too much within the team.

Huddersfield Giants' Michael Lawrence with 2021 Super League top tackler award. He made 749 in the campaign. (ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX)Huddersfield Giants' Michael Lawrence with 2021 Super League top tackler award. He made 749 in the campaign. (ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX)
Huddersfield Giants' Michael Lawrence with 2021 Super League top tackler award. He made 749 in the campaign. (ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX)

“Watto has brought in his new ideas and everyone is buying into it.

“The way I play won’t change too much. It’s just obviously the number on my back.”

Watson is now well underway with the West Yorkshire club's pre-season following his switch from Salford in November.

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Having signed Jones, former NRL centre Ricky Leutele, Wigan Warriors' England second-row Joe Greenwood, Salford prop Luke Yates, St Helens' front-row Jack Ashworth, ex-Widnes Vikings full-back Olly Ashall-Bott and London Broncos' half-back/hooker James Cunningham, he has made vast changes.

Lawrence, who debuted for Huddersfield in 2008 and become part of the RFL's Inclusion Board last week, said: "He’s a really good appointment; he’s already put his stamp on the team and everybody has hopped on board.

"Everyone’s working really hard. He’s brought a lot of quality into the side as well with the additions he’s brought in.

"Everyone’s very excited for the season ahead and what we could possibly achieve."

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