A year ago it seemed if Chris Lawrence was going to be signing a new three-year deal anywhere, it would be somewhere bleak in the north of England.
Lawrence's career trajectory had gone off course, far from the player who burst through gaps for fun when Benji Marshall was there creating them, and with the push to move Robbie Farah on, his own future as a long-termer at Concord Oval didn't appear bright.
But with a shift to the back row having given Lawrence a new lease of life, a new contract announced on the eve of Friday night's match against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium has given strength to the 27-year-old's desire to finish his NRL career where it began as a teenager.
The remodelled Lawrence has arguably been the Tigers' best player in a season that hasn't reached great heights, and captaining City Origin to victory in Tamworth was another tick for his second coming.
One of the highest paid players at the club on about $600,000 a season, the former centre had an option for next year. That was more than the Tigers could afford to pay him in the years ahead, but after deciding not to pursue the option and testing the market, Lawrence agreed to terms to stay until the end of 2019.
The Tigers have other important business they hope to finalise, with the deadline for halves Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses to exercise contract options for next year on Monday week. If that is a source of anxiety then Lawrence's re-signing is welcome news, says coach Jason Taylor, who sees the former Kangaroos international as an important leadership figure in the evolution of a young squad.
"Probably the biggest thing with Chris was just around injuries and getting him to the other side of that completely, which we've been able to do in the last 18 months," Taylor said.
"He started out in the centres and things weren't going as well as we would have liked or he would have liked and we made that move, and it's been a real positive move. He's a tough player – making that move from the centres to the back row you've got to be able to handle more knocks and have tougher carries and he does that week after week."
Lawrence agreed the move to second-row had rejuvenated his career. "I think the way the game is going, and the way we play here at the Tigers and the players we've got, it suits my game a lot more than the centres," he said.
The Tigers were poor for much of their last outing, a 20-12 win over Newcastle, and are without captain Aaron Woods due to NSW duty. But they do welcome back Sauaso Sue in Brisbane, where the Broncos will still boast a formidable line-up despite their own representative absentees.
"With Woodsy not being there to bring Jesse in to replace him, with Tim Grant pushing into the starting side, is ideal," Taylor said.
Fullback James Tedesco is firming for a return from a fractured shoulder blade on Sunday week against Sydney Roosters. "He's getting closer," Taylor said. "We'd like to think it could be next week, the next game against the Roosters, but that hasn't been confirmed yet.
