Dragons recruit Nathan Lawson has revealed why he switched codes from his role with the Rugby Sevens and Shane Flanagan as he prepares for a stunning NRL debut in 2025.
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Lawson, who won the 2024 Australian Men’s Sevens Player of the Year award, made a shocking code switch after being lured to rugby league by Flanagan.
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The Dragons have been trying to offload winger Mikaele Ravalawa, so Lawson will compete with Tyrell Sloan, Christian Tuipulotu, Mat Feagai and Sione Finau for the starting wing spot. The club will field a new-look backline featuring former Eels skipper Gutherson and former Cowboys center and marquee star Valentine Holmes.
Code Sports reported that Lawson had never played rugby league before and was learning the Dragons playbook through the software program Hudl.
“I’ve been in contact with the Dragons and got all their Hudl’s and all their footage, so of course I’m watching it and keeping my head down on all their training and everything. So it’s not a huge shock when I start in December. To me,” Lawson told Code Sports.
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“It’s more important to prepare mentally. I think Sevens will prepare you health wise. The physical aspect would be fine too.
“I’m really excited when I think about (being able to play with Holmes and Guderson). I think playing outside of them makes the game very easy.
“I have to work hard enough to earn a spot there, and I think that will simplify my game more than anything else.”
The 25-year-old started his rugby career at forward before moving to back and, as a 94kg winger, will bid for an outside back role for the Dragons.
Lawson wanted a new challenge and couldn’t spend the next four years preparing for the next Olympics without giving the NRL a great opportunity.
“After the Olympics I felt good about it. Because the next Olympics are four years away. It’s a four-year commitment and I wanted to try something new and I felt like I’d achieved almost everything I wanted. “Other than winning the Olympics, it’s in sevens,” Lawson said.
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“People always told me the NRL was for me. I just laughed, but it wasn’t until I sat down with my manager and had a good chat about it that I actually realized it could be a really good option.
“This is a great product that is very popular in Australia and I think it was a very clear decision for me.”
Lawson believes the profile and opportunities of the NRL as a game are ahead of rugby union at this point, which is why the switch is so attractive.
“Right now, Union is probably a little bit lacking. It’s slowly building up, but with the product in the league and where I want to fit in, there’s probably a better option,” Lawson said.
“It’s good to turn on the league and watch it when you go home. All my friends and everyone likes and watches it. Then again, it seems a bit difficult to convince your friends to play rugby and Super Rugby. It was a good product too.
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“Just to be able to possibly be in that team and get the opportunity to play NRL is huge.”
Lawson said Flanagan was a big factor in his decision to jump code after being impressed by his vision for the club and the opportunity to play a role in the team.
“I had a great meeting with Flanno and was really excited and knew I would probably have a good opportunity to get into the squad and learn from them,” Lawson said.
“He’s seen a bit of my football and I think the sevens skill set is a bit more transferable than the rugby union skill set. I think he likes my pace and the way I played a bit forward at first and then switched a bit more to the wing.”
