Coming off a break-out two years in which he solidified himself as one of the most underrated back rowers in the game, Lachlan Fitzgibbon enjoyed another big season in 2019.
Crossing his first NRL milestone of 50 games, Fitzgibbon took on a more senior role in his side than ever before.
Fitzgibbon started the year as a marked man, with his lethal combination with Kalyn Ponga one of the biggest weapons in the nib Newcastle Knights’ arsenal.
While his try-scoring frequency was kept under wraps by opposition defences, Fitzgibbon still managed to run for well over 100 metres per game in the opening few weeks of the competition.
Fitzgibbon was still dangerous for his side close to the line, crossing the line for five tries during the year. He also broke through for two line-breaks and had a hand in three line-break assists. He also managed five offloads and ran for 1847 run metres over the course of his 21 appearances.
Where Fitzgibbon really shined in 2019 was in his defence. Fitzgibbon made 566 tackles at the stunning efficiency of over 92%.
With another year under his belt and a new Head Coach at the Club, 2020 is shaping up as another big season for Lachlan Fitzgibbon.