http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/sea-eagles-prop-brenton-lawrence-thrives-in-nrl-trench-warfare/story-fngr8iii-1226600884185
-------------------------
SEA Eagles prop Brenton Lawrence is thriving in the trench warfare of the NRL - but he almost ended up in a far more dangerous combat zone.
Manly's "Top Gun" forward has revealed he was set to follow a very different path three years ago by becoming a ground defence officer with the Royal Australian Air Force.
It is a career where real heroes are born as the officer's primary duty is to defend Air Force airfields, assets and personnel from ground attack.
It was while playing for the Raiders in Canberra Lawrence graduated from university and applied to join the RAAF.
"I waited a fair while," Lawrence said.
"In that time I went to the Gold Coast and played some games for Burleigh and then got a start with the Titans."
When the Air Force finally got back to Lawrence and said it was ready to go, he told them he was playing in the NRL.
The Air Force's loss has certainly been Manly's gain as Lawrence has been one of the team's standout performers in the opening two premiership games.
"I always thought about playing football at the NRL level and for some reason maybe blindly or foolishly I always backed myself that I could have a run and I'm glad I did," he said.
Lawrence, 24, has come a long way from the young centre who got picked up by the Raiders while playing schoolboy football in Adelaide.
He arrived at the Sea Eagles with a single-minded determination to succeed after being in and out of the Titans side for two seasons.
"Being honest, I did find that frustrating," he said.
One of the key requirements for a ground defence officer is maintaining a very high physical fitness standard and Lawrence has done that with his impressive efforts at training.
"Whether I am training or playing, I've got something to prove," he said. "I want to be part of the success we are building here."
On Saturday he will come up against his old Titans team at Skilled Park.
--------------------------------------------------
Great attitude and looking forward to Brent2 flattening a few Titans on Saturday