Tom Learoyd-Lahrs
Encyclopedia
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the Canberra Raiders
of the National Rugby League
(NRL) competition. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he previously played for the Brisbane Broncos
.
, Learoyd-Lahrs played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2002 and 2003. Learoyd-Lahrs' first 3 seasons with Canberra were disrupted by injuries, but in 2009 he discovered his best form and began a series of impressive displays that led to his selection on the bench for NSW in Game 3 of the 2009 Rugby League State of Origin series
after being the 18th man for Game 2. Previously Queensland had tried to poach Learoyd-Lahrs in similar fashion to Greg Inglis
by inviting him to attend an Emerging Origin camp but Learoyd-Lahrs was only eligible for NSW.
Despite playing in the second row Learoyd-Lahrs can also cover in the front row. Luke Bailey once commented that "Learoyd-Lahrs is about 600 kilos". He typically plays an "enforcer" type role similar to the role played by Anthony Watmough
and Neville Costigan
.
Learoyd-Lahrs is eligible to play for the Indigenous DreamTime team
.
He represented Australia in the 2010 Four Nations tournament.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL) competition. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he previously played for the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
.
Biography
While attending Farrer Memorial Agricultural High SchoolFarrer Memorial Agricultural High School
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School is an academically selective, day and boarding, Public high school for boys, located at Calala, a small suburb of Tamworth, in northern New South Wales, Australia...
, Learoyd-Lahrs played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2002 and 2003. Learoyd-Lahrs' first 3 seasons with Canberra were disrupted by injuries, but in 2009 he discovered his best form and began a series of impressive displays that led to his selection on the bench for NSW in Game 3 of the 2009 Rugby League State of Origin series
2009 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 2009 State of Origin series was the 28th time that the annual three-match series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules...
after being the 18th man for Game 2. Previously Queensland had tried to poach Learoyd-Lahrs in similar fashion to Greg Inglis
Greg Inglis
Greg Inglis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several...
by inviting him to attend an Emerging Origin camp but Learoyd-Lahrs was only eligible for NSW.
Despite playing in the second row Learoyd-Lahrs can also cover in the front row. Luke Bailey once commented that "Learoyd-Lahrs is about 600 kilos". He typically plays an "enforcer" type role similar to the role played by Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League...
and Neville Costigan
Neville Costigan
Neville Costigan is a professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. A Queensland State of Origin and Papua New Guinea international representative, Costigan previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders and most recently, the St...
.
Learoyd-Lahrs is eligible to play for the Indigenous DreamTime team
Australian Aboriginal rugby league team
The Australia Aboriginal rugby league team is a rugby league football team that represents Australian Aborigines...
.
He represented Australia in the 2010 Four Nations tournament.