The Brick With Eyes Paves the way for Lazarus second coming

The Lazarus name has made its second coming to ACT rugby league, with Canberra Raiders legend Glenn's son Hayden pulling on the Woden Valley Rams' jersey for the second time this weekend.

The Rams play the Gungahlin Bulls at Gungahlin on Saturday in the second round of an abbreviated Canberra Raiders Cup.

Glenn Lazarus is a household name in rugby league.

He played 254 NRL games, including five premierships, and represented Australia and NSW 22 times each.

The prop known as "The Brick With Eyes" helped create Raiders history as part of their first two premierships in 1989-90.

Surprisingly, his son Hayden - aka "The Paver" - only began his rugby league journey last year when he trialed for the Monaro Colts representative side, having mostly played rugby union growing up.

"I've never been much of a rugby league player," Lazarus said.

"Believe it or not, I've had my attention on other things, but when I did arrive here in Canberra I joined up with the Royals rugby union team because I'd played rugby union throughout school and I was on a rugby scholarship in Brisbane so I got a really good education out of rugby union."

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Lazarus had spent some time in Canberra as a kid when his dad was an assistant coach at the Raiders, before moving back to Brisbane.

He returned to the ACT two years ago to complete his education and he's working for an accounting firm while he completes a double degree in finance and law.

Having played rugby for a couple of years, Lazarus decided to give league a go and headed out to the Colts trials late last year.

Colts coach Justin Giteau liked what he saw and the young Lazarus made a representative squad before he even had a Canberra club to play for.

The Rams were nearby so he signed with them, where ex-Raiders Ken Nagas was the coach.

"I picked up a rugby league ball at the back end of last year when I turned up to the Monaro Colts trial and at that trial I ended up making the Monaro Colts squad," Lazarus said.

"So I'd made a representative squad before I'd even joined the club.

"Justin Giteau came up to me and said ,'Who do you pay for again?' And I said, 'I don't have a club'.

"I needed a club to play for so I could join the Monaro squad because they need releases and all that sort of thing.

"Woden Valley was the closest one and that was good for me. I've never looked back since. I really enjoy playing with Woden Valley and being amongst all the boys."

Lazarus is a big, burly prop like his dad, although he admits he's gotten a bit bigger and burlier during the coronavirus lockdown.

He relished his first hit out with the Rams - although he admits he needs to work on his fitness.

It was up against a fit, young Raiders under-20s and Lazarus was hopeful his dad could come down the next time he plays them to watch - COVID-19 allowing.

"It was trial by fire. The under-20s had been training together since about November last year and our pre-season was a bit disjointed with COVID," he said.

"When the message came around the season was going to be off I think I weighed 106kg, but I got on the scales just before I played on the weekend and I was 125kg. I've just got to get fit."

Canberra Raiders Cup round two

Saturday: Queanbeyan Blues v Canberra Raiders under-20s at Seiffert Oval, 2pm; Gungahlin Bulls v Woden Valley Rams at Gungahlin Enclosed, 2pm.