Karl Lawton insists he is happy to play anywhere for Hull KR this season after making the move from the NRL to Craven Park.
Lawton had a deal with North Queensland Cowboys for another year, but with his future uncertain beyond that, he jumped at the chance to join the Robins on a three-year deal, which will take the 30-year-old to the brink of his 33rd birthday.
It was a deal that was announced before Christmas and he arrived just after to join up with Willie Peters’ treble-winning side.
Lawton is versatile and he can play a number of positions across the pack and back line, with much of his career being spent either at hooker or in the back-row. However, it’s fair to say that it’s not immediately obvious what position he will play with the Robins, with KR looking stacked in the pack even with Micky McIlorum and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves leaving the club in the off-season.
And, asked where he expects to play in red and white this year, Lawton told Serious About Rugby League: “To be honest, it’s been a bit of an open book.
“I’m not closed off to playing any position. I just want to do the best for the team. It sounds cliche but I don’t really have a favourite, I just want to do what’s good for the team, so if that’s playing nine, 12, 11, front row, centre, wing, I’m OK with it.”
That will be music to Peters’ ears, knowing he has someone who is more than capable of mucking in almost anywhere on the field, with loose-forward another option for him.
However, with Lawton expected to feature this weekend in the friendly against Wakefield Trinity at Craven Park, we’ll likely know a little more about what the head coach has planned for him after Sunday’s contest.
Wherever he plays, though, be it nine, 13 or second-row, Lawton knows he will be competing with some established names.
Karl Lawton hails Hull KR leaders
“They’re really good leaders,” he said on Elliot Minchella and Jez Litten in particular. “Min’s a really good talker and he understands the game really well. I think he delivers messages well and you can tell he leads by example, his actions on the field and off the field are second to none to being up there with the most impressive I’ve seen. It’s been really good to work with him.
“Jez is such a smart player. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been here and I’ve only been here a few weeks. I’m just taking bits of pieces of his game to help my game and hopefully he can do the same. It’s been really good working with them both.”
On those who have caught his eye, he added: “Some of the big boys and how they move and work has impressed me a lot. Jesse Sue is such an impressive player and you can tell why he’s held in such a high regard just with the way he carries himself.
“On the field he’s another one that leads by example. We have such a good forward pack here to really do some damage and I can’t wait to get on the field with them.”
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