Tom Learoyd-Lahrs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Learoyd-Lahrs
Born	(1985-09-13) 13 September 1985 (age 39) Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	115 kg (18 st 2 lb)
Position	Prop, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2004–05 Brisbane Broncos 10 0 0 0 0 2006–14 Canberra Raiders 109 8 0 0 32 2015 Melbourne Storm 1 0 0 0 0 Total 120 8 0 0 32 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2005 Queensland Residents 1 0 0 0 0 2009–10 New South Wales 4 0 0 0 0 2010–12 NSW Country 3 0 0 0 0 2010–12 Indigenous All Stars 3 0 0 0 0 2010 Australia 4 0 0 0 0

Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, born on September 13, 1985, is a former professional rugby league player from Australia. He played in the 2000s and 2010s. Tom represented Australia internationally and played for New South Wales in the State of Origin series. He was part of teams like the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, and Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Early Life and Rugby Beginnings

Tom Learoyd-Lahrs was born in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia. He has Indigenous Australian heritage. As he grew up, he lived in different places like Kingscliff, New South Wales and Wandoan, Queensland. Later, in his early teenage years, he moved to Tamworth, New South Wales. There, he attended Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School.

While in Tamworth, Tom started playing junior rugby league. He played for local teams such as the Werris Creek Magpies and the North Tamworth Bears. His talent was noticed early on.

High School Achievements

During his time at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Tom signed a special scholarship contract with the Brisbane Broncos. This was a big step in his rugby career. He also had the honor of representing the Australian Schoolboys team in 2003 and 2004. Before that, he played for the New South Wales under-17 team in 2002 and the New South Wales under-19 team in 2003.

Professional Playing Career

Tom Learoyd-Lahrs had a professional rugby league career that spanned over a decade. He played for three different clubs in the National Rugby League (NRL) and also represented his state and country.

Playing for the Brisbane Broncos

Tom made his first appearance in the NRL for the Brisbane Broncos in 2004. This was in Round 2 of the 2004 NRL season. He played in eight NRL games that year, including a final match. During 2004, he also played for the Queensland under-19 team, the Queensland Residents, and the Junior Kangaroos.

In 2005, Tom played only two NRL games for the Broncos. He spent most of that season playing for the Toowoomba Clydesdales in the Queensland Cup. He also represented the Queensland Residents again that year.

Time with the Canberra Raiders

In 2006, Tom moved to the Canberra Raiders. For the first three years, he played in 31 games, but he faced some injuries. In 2009, he played very well and was chosen to play for New South Wales in the third game of the 2009 State of Origin series. This was a major achievement for him.

The year 2010 was a big one for Tom. He played 20 games for the Raiders and all three games for New South Wales in the 2010 State of Origin series. In October 2010, he made his debut for the Australian national team. He played four games in the 2010 Four Nations tournament. After this successful year, Tom faced more injuries. He played only 42 games over the next four seasons. In 2014, his last year with the Raiders, he did not play in any first-grade games.

Joining the Melbourne Storm

On September 1, 2014, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs signed with the Melbourne Storm for the 2015 season. He played only one game for the Storm, which was in Round 2 against the Manly Sea Eagles. He also played five games for their feeder club, the Sunshine Coast Falcons, in the Queensland Cup. This was due to a knee injury. In October 2015, he announced that he was retiring from the NRL.

Life After NRL

After retiring from the NRL, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs continued to be involved in rugby league.

In 2016, he went back to Tamworth. He played for the North Tamworth Bears and helped them win the Group 4 premiership. In 2021, he moved to Townsville, Queensland with his family. In 2022, he worked as a coach for the Norths Thuringowa Devils. This team plays in the Townsville & Districts Rugby League competition.

Personal Life

In 2005, Tom Learoyd, as he was known then, added "Lahrs" to his surname. He did this to honor his biological father, Michael Lahrs. Tom has a son named Kaiden. Kaiden is currently a member of the North Queensland Cowboys NRL squad, following in his father's footsteps.