Daine Laurie (rugby league, born 1984)

Daine Laurie (born 2 August 1984) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played as a prop for the Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers in the NRL.

Daine Laurie
Personal information
Full nameDaine Raymond Neil Laurie
Born (1984-08-02) 2 August 1984 (age 39)
Yamba, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height198 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb)
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008–09 Wests Tigers 20 3 0 0 12
2010 Penrith Panthers 3 0 0 0 0
Total 23 3 0 0 12
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008 Aboriginal Dreamtime 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Playing career edit

 
Laurie playing for the Tigers in 2009.

Wests Tigers edit

Born in Yamba, New South Wales, Laurie played junior football with the Yamba Dolphins before being signed by the Western Suburbs Magpies in the NSW Cup.

In June 2008, Laurie signed a 2-year with the Wests Tigers starting in the same year.[2] In Round 15 of the 2008 NRL season he made his NRL debut against the Brisbane Broncos.[3]

Penrith Panthers edit

In September 2009, Laurie signed a two-year deal to join the Penrith Panthers from the 2010 season. Laurie had been released from his contract with the Tigers and was facing criminal proceedings at the time, having been charged for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend,[4] although the charge was later dismissed.[5]

After joining the Panthers, Laurie made comments to the press that were critical of Wests Tigers and coach Tim Sheens. He stated that he, "never felt welcome" and, "it was nothing but negative at the Tigers."[6] He made his debut for the Panthers in the 12–6 loss to the New Zealand Warriors at CUA stadium, after missing the first 17 rounds of the season due to, "niggling injuries."[7] After this lone appearance, he missed the next training session with the club and was dropped back to NSW Cup.[8] He ended up making 3 appearances for the season.

After the end of the 2010 season, Laurie joined the Saint-Gaudens Bears for a short-term contract, to get some match experience before the start of the next season.[9]

However, upon Laurie's return to Australia, he was not given a release to play for the Panthers, with a dispute with his French club over damage to a car. On 19 June 2011, Laurie was sacked from the Panthers for disciplinary reasons, having been accused of drinking on a flight to New Zealand to play a match for the Windsor Wolves. Laurie said of the matter, "Gus just called me out at training at around 2pm, and bang: "You gotta go, mate – hopefully, you can find another club."[10][11]

Newcastle Rugby League edit

After being sacked by Penrith, Laurie signed for the Macquarie Scorpions in the Newcastle Rugby League.[12]

Newcastle Knights edit

On 20 November 2011, Laurie signed a one-year deal with the Newcastle Knights for the 2012 season in an attempt to revive his NRL career under Wayne Bennett.[13]

On 31 January 2010, Laurie made comments about fellow player Willie Mason saying "Tell Willie Mason when I see him I'm going to slap him in the face, I'm gonna hurt him if he actually gets a start this year. [A friend] saw Willie out and was saying 'How about Daine Laurie, he runs pretty hard and he's a pretty good player'," Laurie explained. "Then Willie told him 'Nah, he's a poor excuse for a footballer and is just a drunk'. And calling me a drunk! Is he serious? He loves a drink. Everyone knows that. If you can put that in the paper, then put it in the paper. I used to have nothing but respect for the guy until I heard that. But that's it."[14] In 2012, Laurie and Mason played for the same team, the Newcastle Knights.

Wyong Roos edit

In 2013, Laurie joined stand-alone NSW Cup team, Wyong Roos.[15] In 2017, it was revealed that Laurie had played for The South Grafton Rebels and The Lower Clarence Magpies in one of the local country competitions.

Representative career edit

Laurie was selected as the starting second row forward for the Australian Aboriginal rugby league team for the exhibition match against the New Zealand Māori team that opened the 2008 World Cup.[16] Laurie was also selected for the inaugural All Stars match for the Indigenous side but had to withdraw and was replaced by Greg Bird.

Personal life edit

On 19 June 2017, it was revealed that Laurie was facing intent to murder charges after two alleged shootings in Nambucca Heads.[17][18]

It was reported on a northern NSW news website that after a stint in gaol Laurie was released in early 2021.[19]

References edit

  1. ^ "Daine Laurie – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project.
  2. ^ Paul Haigh (18 June 2008). "Tigers sign new prop". Liverpool City Champion. Retrieved 21 June 2008. [dead link]
  3. ^ Margie McDonald (21 June 2008). "Broncos back in the Hunt". The Australian. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
  4. ^ Todd Balym (23 September 2009). "Daine Laurie a Panther, Tigers on signing spree". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  5. ^ "Assault charge against NRL player Daine Laurie dismissed in Campbelltown Local Court". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  6. ^ Josh Rakic (31 January 2010). "Bigger, faster, happy – Laurie the Panther takes swipe at Sheens". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  7. ^ Daniel Lewis (12 July 2010). "He's back, then gone again – Panthers use Laurie in short, sharp bursts". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Gone AWOL". Footy Confidential (30 July 2010). Sydney, NSW: 45.
  9. ^ Chris Georgakopoulos (25 October 2010). "Panther Daine Laurie makes the French connection". Penrith Press. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  10. ^ Josh Rakic (22 June 2011). "Fear of flying drove me to drink, claims axed Laurie". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  11. ^ Josh Massoud (21 June 2011). "Dane Laurie sacked over drinking drama". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  12. ^ [1]
  13. ^ Adrian Proszenko (20 November 2011). "Tarnished Laurie handed chance to shine at Knights". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  14. ^ "Smackdown – Laurie wants piece of Mason". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 January 2010.
  15. ^ "Wyong Prepare to Take the Plunge". Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  16. ^ Brad Walter (27 October 2008). "Call to relive the Dreamtime". Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  17. ^ [2]
  18. ^ Clair Morton (19 July 2017). "Former NRL star Daine Laurie on intent to murder rap". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  19. ^ https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/out-of-jail-doing-good-a-tale-of-two-daine-lauries/4200523/ [bare URL]

External links edit