- Blake Lawrie was struggling with the pace of NRL games
Footy star Blake Lawrie has transformed his body following a savage comment from St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan during his 2025 end-of-season review.
It followed a testing campaign for the Red V, where they finished 15th.
Flanagan didn’t mince his words, telling Lawrie, who made his NRL debut in 2017, he was ‘the last front-rower on my squad list.’
The blunt feedback rocked Lawrie – a former NSW Blues under-20s representative – who instead of kicking stones, got to work.
He spent the entire pre-Christmas period training away from his teammates, working closely with renowned exercise physiologist Justin Lang.
Lawrie, 29, didn’t take any shortcuts and now looks like an athlete after losing 12kg of fat and adding four kilograms of muscle to his frame.
Footy star Blake Lawrie has transformed his body following a savage comment from St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan during his 2025 end-of-season review
Lawrie spent the entire pre-Christmas period training away from the club, working closely with renowned exercise physiologist Justin Lang
Lawrie didn’t take any shortcuts and has lost 12kg of fat – and added four kilograms of muscle (pictured, training in Las Vegas ahead of his team’s season opener against the Bulldogs)
The off-contract star was rewarded with a bench spot ahead of the Dragons’ season-opener against the Bulldogs in Las Vegas on March 1.
‘It (brutal feedback) hurt me, but I thanked him (Flanagan) for looking out for my career,’ Lawrie told News Corp.
‘I got left behind the last 18 to 24 months in terms of how fast the game has gotten.
‘The game has changed, it’s harder for bigger men. ‘I am a better athlete now, I went all in on the program and the training…and it has paid off.’
Many experts have tipped the Dragons to finish with the wooden spoon this season, which won’t bother Flanagan or the playing group.
TAB has the Red V as $3.10 outsiders ahead of their clash with Canterbury in Sin City.
Forwards Josh Kerr (ankle) and Hame Sele (head knock) and centre Val Holmes (shoulder) have all been named to play at Allegiant Stadium.
Former Shark Dan Atkinson will make his Dragons debut as will winger Setu Tu, who joined the club from the Warriors.
The Dragons last played finals in 2018.
