Local junior and Dragons Academy graduate Blake Lawrie is set to reach his 150-game milestone when the Dragons take on the Roosters on Anzac Day.
He joins Ben Hornby, Ben Creagh, Jason Nightingale, Matt Cooper, Jack de Belin, Dean Young, Mark Gasnier, Brett Morris, Tyson Frizell, Jason Ryles, Trent Merrin, Trent Barrett and Dan Hunt as the only St George Illawarra players to reach the milestone.
A highly touted junior coming through the ranks at Dapto and Wests, Lawrie quickly filtered into Illawarra's Junior Reps system.
He spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons with Illawarra's Harold Matthews Cup side before being selected in the NSW Under 16s squad.
He made the leap up to SG Ball the following year before being fast tracked into St George Illawarra's Holden Cup side.
He played 22 matches as an 18-year-old in the Under 20s competition and again earnt a state call-up mid-year – this time for the Under 18s NSW outfit.
Lawrie returned to the Holden Cup the following before earning an Intrust Super Premiership debut with the Illawarra Cutters in Round 20.
He became a Cutters regular in 2017 – the same year he earnt an Under 20s State of Origin nod – and was eventually handed an NRL debut by Head Coach Paul McGregor in Round 17 on the Gold Coast.
'It's an honour': Lawrie reflects on special milestone
The then 21-year-old had grown into a reliable contributor for McGregor by the end of the 2018 season coming off the bench in the side's 48-18 thumping of Brisbane in Week 1 of the Finals.
As 2019 rolled around, he had solidified himself as a key member of the pack alongside international stars Tyson Frizell, Tariq Sims, Paul Vaughan and James Graham.
Lawrie's hard work was recognised at the conclusion of the side's 2019 campaign as he took home the club's Immortals Trophy at the Dragons Awards Ceremony.
He would have to wait until Round 12, 2022 – his 91st NRL game – however for his maiden four-pointer when Andrew McCullough sent the bullocking front rower over next to the sticks at Belmore.
Lawrie breaks his duck to secure Dragons win
2023 proved a big year for Lawrie – he captained the side for the first time in Round 19 against Canberra before being awarded the Dragons Medal as the side's Player of the Year come season's end.
He made 22 appearances for the side averaging 135 run metres and tallying 680 tackles at over 94 per cent efficiency.
Lawrie will run out in his seventh Anzac Day Cup match on Friday – only seven Dragons have run out in more.
But this year's clash holds a little more weight for the boy from Dapto as he celebrates his milestone match and continues to chase down Jason Ryles (167) and Dan Hunt (151) as St George Illawarra's most capped front rower.
On top of all the excitement that comes from such a special occasion, the Dragons will be eyeing their first three-game winning streak since the end of 2022 and looking to nestle themselves a little deeper in the Top 8 picture.
