It took just 13 games for Lachlan West to land on the Brisbane Broncos’ radar.
Signed to the Burleigh Bears, the 22-year-old was brought to Red Hill under new coach Michael Maguire on a train-and-trial deal to battle for the chance to become fullback Reece Walsh’s understudy.
Tristan Sailor starred with the same responsibility, before signing with St Helens, and West will vie with former Bulldogs No.1 Hayze Perham and Latrell Siegwalt to replace him.
Tristan Sailor proved a valuable asset when Broncos fullback Reece Walsh was out through injury, suspension and State of Origin commitments. Credit: NRL Photos
While Brisbane completed their top-30 roster after recruiting Ben Hunt, athletes signed to development and trial contracts can be selected to cover players later in the season – as Sailor was before he earned a full-time deal.
That has opened the door for West, who starred for the Northern Pride in Cairns last season, and his former coach declared he possessed traits his competitors did not.
Eric Smith, who has taken the Redcliffe Dolphins’ reins, was captivated by the youngster’s size before bringing him to Cairns from the Brisbane Tigers.
“The sheer size of Lachie is a massive bonus. His vertical leap and how long and rangy he is has to be a plus for him,” Smith said.
“Latrell is a very skilful player with the footy in his hands, but Lachie’s got that natural advantage just by his athleticism and build of him. Over my experience coaching in NRL and Cup level, from what I’ve seen, he’s one of the better ones.
“Athletically, physically, he is one of the best younger athletes at that age I’ve seen – he’s able to jump, and the way he glides and moves across the field he goes so well.
“He’s always had his sights set on the NRL, but unlike most kids he’s got the physical attributes to do it.”
While Perham’s 35 NRL appearances and Siegwalt’s Queensland Cup rookie-of-the-year honours give them more runs on the board, West has proven himself in preseasons before, winning the Cowboys’ Castle Hill run last year.
Smith believed West’s fitness and ball-playing ability would prove valuable weapons, arguing he had a higher ceiling to reach given what he had shown in the fledgling stages of his development.
“He’s got a pretty big future ahead of him. On the aerobic side of it, he goes really well,” Smith said.
“His quick hand to put his winger or centre away and his vision was something that came pretty naturally to him.”
West joins a Bears side with history transforming fullbacks into first-grade talent – Keano Kini and Taine Tuaupiki recently going on to star for the Titans and Warriors, respectively.
Broncos winger Jesse Arthars revealed the train-and-trialists had led the way in fitness and gym testing, and Bears legend Jeff Lynch believed the Burleigh crop – which included props Tristan Powell and Matthew Koellner – would be in an environment that would catch Maguire’s eye.
The former prop declared his former teammate, Canberra halfback Jamal Fogarty, had paved the way for late-bloomers to establish themselves coming out of the Burleigh system.
“[Fogarty] would be the first to admit he might not have been ready [when he was younger], and it took that extra year or two to know who he was,” Lynch said.
“I think they discover themselves a bit later. They’ve experienced losses in big games, they’ve experienced big game atmospheres and know what it’s like.
“They can handle the nerves and know what type of player they are and what they need to get the job done.”
