SEA Eagles prop Brenton Lawrence has declared he is ready to lift the aggression in his showdown with Sydney Roosters "hit man" Jared Waerea-Hargreaves when their two sides clash at Brookvale Oval on Friday.
In 2013 Waerea-Hargreaves was suspended for five weeks after a swinging arm on George Rose and early this year he took out Glenn Stewart with a shoulder charge.
"It's always a personal dual against your front row opposition," Lawrence said.
He doesn't think Waerea-Hargreaves has a personal vendetta against him but says he needs to take his game to the next level with the way the big Roosters plays.
"It's a funny thing rugby league, the intensity levels can rise and fall depending on the speed of the game or the aggression that comes with the opposition," Lawrence said.
If they are bringing it we need to lift — but at the same time we don't intend on going out there and just meeting whatever they can put to us.
"We have every intention of taking it to them."
Lawrence, who could be playing for a spot in the Queensland Origin squad, said the way Waerea-Hargreaves played was all part of the game.
"It is an aggressive game, it's especially aggressive in the middle," he said.
"I'm all for it, I like it.
"Rugby league is a hard game and it is supposed to be challenging.
"If you are being challenged on the field than all the better for it, it should bring out the best in you as a player."
Teammate Tom Symonds said Waerea-Hargreaves always pushed the boundaries.
"I'm sure he does something of an aggressive nature, puts on a good hit or a big charge it fires up their team," he said.
"As a forward pack we have to stand up to that."
Symonds said in these situations it was always good to have a player like Jason King in their side,
"When he comes on the field he is our raging bull," Symonds said
Jon Geddes
Manly Daily
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