With November 1 fast approaching, Daine Laurie admits he has no clarity over where he’ll be playing next season, but he’s adamant his best NRL football is still ahead of him.
The off-contract Penrith fullback has been listed among the reserves for Sunday’s semi-final against Canterbury and, while Dylan Edwards remains the club’s first-choice No.1, Laurie has filled the role with competence across his 23 appearances in the past two years.
‘Day by day’ as market opens
Speaking to AAP, the 26-year-old conceded he’s unsure what comes next. “I don’t have a clue (what my future holds) ... I’m just going to take it day by day and hopefully something turns up in the background,” Laurie said.
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Laurie believes his second stint at the Panthers has left him a more polished player than when he departed for Wests Tigers in 2020. “I reckon I’ve matured as a person and I reckon my game has definitely gotten better since I left the Tigers,” he said.
A key factor has been the chance to shadow Edwards. “I’ve obviously learned heaps off Dyl. He’s a champion fullback and I’ve looked up to him since I came down here as a 16-year-old. He’s the one I’ve tried to model my game off and he’s been a great mentor.”
With 75 NRL games to his name, Laurie insists he wants to reach the century mark before even considering a move overseas. “I think I’m too young to go over there, I want to get to the 100-game mark and then maybe suss it out,” he said.
For now, his management is exploring options, but Laurie is clear he won’t rush. “If something pops up that’s the right thing for me and my missus, I’ll take it.”