While country music was as foreign as the country musical capital itself to most of his New Zealand Warriors team-mates before their Tamworth quarantine, hooker Karl Lawton is no stranger to the city - although the circumstances of this visit are vastly different.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Speaking to the media via video from the Scully Park base where the 'Tamworth Warriors', as they have been dubbed, are preparing for the NRL season restart, the Gold Coast native revealed this isn't his first visit to Tamworth.
He has been here a few times previously - both in a professional and personal capacity.
"My dad's best mate lives down here," he said, recalling coming down with his dad and riding horses on his friends farm.
During his time with the Gold Coast Titans, where he was before he joined the Warriors in 2018, Lawton also made a couple of promotional visits.
He said it's "always lovely to come back" and remarked on how lovely the people are.
The Warriors will carry a permanent reminder with them of their time in Tamworth throughout the season with the city's postcode - 2340 - being stitched into the jerseys as a way of saying 'thank you' for stepping in and hosting them during their mandatory quarantine.
"It's pretty cool," Lawton said.
"I think they've done a really good job - Tamworth - of welcoming us in and definitely making us feel comfortable."
READ ALSO:
He joked that a few of them might be weighing in a bit heavier after their stay with how good the food is.
As a further token of their appreciation, the club are offering a complimentary digital membership to locals.
The membership was launched via the Warriors' social media and of early Saturday morning already 200 people had signed up.
It is available exclusively to Tamworth residents, the idea being to 'carry the spirit of our adopted city through the season'.
Those who sign up will receive insider-access to club news and updates on the 2020 campaign as well as a 10% discount on merchandise at the club store and exclusive member offers throughout the season.
By signing up before the end of May there will also be a chance to win a Zoom meeting with the Warriors.
"They've taken us in on late notice and they're doing a really good job about it so the least we can do is repay them with a membership," Lawton said.
Jostling with Nathaniel Roache, who joined the squad in Tamworth on Thursday, and Wayde Egan for the nine jersey, the 24-year old believes the competition will only benefit the side.
"I always say competing is a massive part of rugby league and when you've got three hookers competing for one spot it sort of brings out the best in the other players as well," he said.
"I think giving a coach a headache to pick is sort of a good thing."
After a tough initiation back into training this week, he said the playing group are looking forward to getting back to contact. It as anticipated they will be able to resume contact training on Monday.
"It sounds funny, you do miss doing contact after a while of not doing it so I think all the boys are going to go in there and go hard and rip heads off," he said.
"I reckon it will be a good first hit-out on Monday, it will be a good test for us all."
