The tackling technique Lachlan Lewis employs to stop rampaging forwards in their tracks was honed on rolling truck inner tubes as a kid.
Lewis has been a revelation for Canterbury, leading the side to a commanding victory over Brisbane on Thursday night in just his sixth game in the top grade.
On target: Lachlan Lewis lines up Jamayne Isaako of the Broncos.
While there were touches of his uncle, the Immortal Wally Lewis, in his performance with the ball, his work without it has been the most impressive aspect of his NRL stint to date.
The Broncos forwards, former Raiders teammate Tevita Pangai Junior in particular, attempted to target Lewis in the defensive line as often as possible. Despite a considerable weight disadvantage, the Bulldogs pivot pulled off a series of stinging hits.
On each occasion he timed his shot perfectly, displaying a textbook technique honed under the watchful eye of grandfather Jim Lewis from the age of five.
“When we were really little we didn't have too much money, so we used to roll out inflatable tyres, the inner ring, and you'd have to tackle with your head in the right spot,” Lewis said.
“It was like tackling a big boppa. You learn pretty quick that way.
“I think I owe a lot to that. And just mental toughness and willing to put my body on the line I guess. That was instilled in me at a young age.”
Now that he is in the NRL, Lewis has at his disposal all of Canterbury’s resources to take his game to the next level. However, the humble truck tube was all he needed as a youngster, even when it came to his attacking game.
“They'd be about three foot tall and you get the belly of them, the soft part, you roll that out and then we'd hang it up in the backyard and I'd have to pass through it,” he said.
“I did that until I was about 13.”
In his short career to date, much of the focus on Lewis has centred around the fact that his uncle was one of the greatest footballers the game has seen. While he is proud of the connection, he took the opportunity to thank the other relatives who had helped him on his sporting journey.
“That's one of the most humbling things out of the last six weeks,” he said.
“To be able call my grandparents and I would've missed two calls already [after the Brisbane game] from Jim and June Lewis – to be able to hear they've watched the game and think that I've played alright. Doing them proud is very humbling.
“It's a huge testament to my grandparents. They've bred four boys . . . there's definitely something in the genes. They're built tough. They don't complain too much and they've got plenty to complain about. They're hard nut people, but that's the most humbling thing for me.”
Lewis began the year unsure whether he would fulfil his footballing ambition. He had a “bad manager”, went unrepresented for a period but was determined to earn a first-grade spot and a contract.
After just a handful of NRL games, the Bulldogs had seen enough to offer him a two-year deal.
“It's a dream come true,” he said.
“I'm just trying to build each week, keep moving forward and not take a backward step. I'm resting on my defence and my kicking game, and just trying to keep improving my attack and taking those chances.”
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