In the spotlight: Finn Lawson
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Finn Lawson is no stranger to trying out new things.
The Sunshine Coast Falcons young gun is in his second season of Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup - but in his first season as fullback.
It’s been a challenging introduction to the new position for Lawson, but one he is taking in his stride.
A versatile player, Lawson has changed positions before and has even tried his hand at a whole other sport, going all the way to Japan with the Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union team, despite limited experience.
Two games into the short season and the Falcons have one loss – 32-22 to the Ipswich Jets – and one win – 58-20 over the Wide Bay Bulls - to sit in seventh position on the ladder.
And as Lawson works to find his feet in the No.1 jersey, he is hopeful he can help lead the Sunshine Coast to the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup finals next month.
“I moved positions during the pre-season from hooker to fullback so it’s a change,” Lawson said.
“I play some fullback at school and then we versed Wide Bay in a trial game and I played fullback there and I played alright so I decided to change to fit best for this team.
“I’ve been playing halfback pretty much my whole life and got into the Falcons under 16s (Cyril Connell Challenge) and started playing hooker there. I came off the bench last year as a hooker in the Mal (Meninga Cup) side here.
“I have to start getting more confident with fullback, I guess. It feels good knowing I can play pretty much wherever I’m needed. I have the skillset and ability to do it.
“This year I want to keep progressing, try to make those higher sides and play my best footy to my best ability at this point.
“Making the finals for the Mal (Meninga Cup), taking out the Cup would be really nice. We didn’t have the best start but we can bring it back from here.”
Lawson has been playing rugby league since he was five, starting his juniors with Nambour Crushers before switching over to Kawana Dolphins last year.
He also plays rugby league at Mountain Creek State High School but prior to that he attended St John’s College in Nambour, where he dabbled in rugby union.
Rugby league has been Lawson’s number one sport throughout most of his life, but the talented playmaker surprised even himself last year when he was selected in the Australian Under 18 Rugby Union Schoolboys team.
Match: Clydesdales v Falcons
Round 4 -
home Team
Clydesdales
away Team
Falcons
Venue: Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
He represented the Sunshine Coast and Queensland on his way through to Australian selection, but is a self-proclaimed rugby union rookie and said he was often asking teammates for help.
However, the experience not only helped strengthen his union skills, but also taught him plenty to bring back to rugby league.
“At my old school we played union … that was our sport. Going to schoolboys, I’ve never played outside of school so it was pretty challenging,” Lawson said.
“It was an amazing experience. Tokyo and Japan itself is an amazing place. With the culture there, the footy, it was pretty good. We loved it.
“It showed me to have confidence in your ability, to back yourself. When everyone supports you and you have that good coaching, you can go anywhere really.”
Despite that experience and the fact he would be open to a possible future career in Super Rugby, Lawson said his number one priority remains rugby league.
First he wants to help the Sunshine Coast Falcons get that Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup premiership.
Then one day, the dream for Lawson is to get an NRL contract.
“NRL would be good or maybe even Super Rugby or something like that,” he said.
“But rugby league’s definitely the top priority at the moment.”
