Huddersfield Giants' Michael Lawrence pride after being named in world's best young players

Dec 7 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

PROUD Huddersfield-born Giants centre Michael Lawrence admits being named the 13th best teenager in world rugby league has given him a massive boost in confidence.

The 19-year-old, nicknamed Bruno, was last year rated 31st in the official top 50 published by the Rugby League World Magazine.

But this time around the former Newsome Panthers junior and England Academy ace has shot up the ladder, while fellow Giants centre 19-year-old Josh Griffin also made the list at 45.

And Lawrence admits the news has given him an extra spring in his step at a time when the pre-season work is starting to get even tougher.

“At this time of the year when you’re really being put through it in training it’s great to be handed some sort of boost or other,” said Lawrence, who is rated the fourth best teenager in Super League behind Richie Myler, Tom Briscoe and Richard Owen.

“And being told I’d been rated the 13th best teenager in the world has definitely done the job for me.

“It really is an incredible thought that people rate me this highly when you think of all the teenagers that play rugby league around the world.

“Recognition like this is one of the reasons why you play the game.

“It makes all the hard work you put in during pre-season and during the season itself worthwhile.

“But, at the same time, I’ve also got to make sure I don’t take recognition like this for granted.

“I’ve now got to build on this and make sure that there will be even more for me to celebrate over the next few years.

“I’m only 19 and I realise my career has only just started.”

And Lawrence has revealed that was the message he was told by head coach Nathan Brown after missing out on a Challenge Cup final place at Wembley to fellow centres Jamahl Lolesi and Paul Whatuira.

The Huddersfield-born three-quarter knows he faces competition from the former New Zealand Test pair once again in 2010, but he is ready to accept the challenge head-on.

“It was obviously a real blow to miss out on both the Challenge Cup semi-final and final,” he added.

“But Nathan made it clear it was no reflection on my ability that I didn’t play in those games. He told me he knows my time will come and that there’s now nothing to judge between me, Jammer (Lolesi ) and Fatz (Whatuira).