Michael Lawrence gets Nathan Brown's backing

Jun 26 2009 By Chris Roberts

GIANTS chief Nathan Brown expects Huddersfield-born centre Michael Lawrence to make the most of his return to action at Salford tonight (8.00).

Huddersfield head to The Willows on the back of narrow Super League defeats against champions Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers.

The 19-year-old Lawrence missed both those games as the fourth-placed Giants lost valuable ground on the top three teams in the competition.

But Great Britain Academy international Lawrence takes over from the injured Jamahl Lolesi (knee) tonight, with Galpharm chief Brown confident the teenager will maintain the form he showed in his last game in the home win over third-placed Hull KR three weeks ago.

"The last time Bruno (Lawrence) came back in, he played great. It was the win against Hull KR," said Brown.

"So we’re all hoping he can return with a positive similar effect tonight.

"Against Hull KR, he looked strong and fresh after a couple of weeks out, and that brought the best out of him. His defence was very solid and his attack is improving all the time.

"I’m sure he will have been disappointed not to have kept his place on the back of such a strong performance on that occasion, but you have to remember he’s only just turned 19 and it’s a case of trying not to rush his development. That’s also the case with Leroy Cudjoe.

"But I’m looking forward to seeing how both Bruno and Leroy go tonight, because I know they won’t let anyone down."