An arduous winter training program is paying dividends for Wollongong Hawks centre Larry Davidson.
Sidelined with injury throughout the second half of the 2008-09 season, Davidson knuckled down in the off-season, working harder than he had during five previous years in the NBL.
The 26-year-old joined Hawks forward Glen Saville for daily workouts and shooting sessions, determined to test his troublesome knees.
That he was not even assured of a spot on the Wollongong playing roster for 2009-10 did not deter Davidson.
Full coverage of the Wollongong Hawks While the 209cm southpaw is not shooting the ball as well as he would like - he is making 34 per cent of his field goals and 50 per cent of his free throws - Davidson is pulling down a team-leading eight rebounds per game and is Wollongong's designated anchor man at the defensive end.
In the past two Hawks wins over Cairns and New Zealand, the man team-mates refer to as "Laz" has averaged 9.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. He also leads the Hawks in blocked shots (three).
Davidson might be underrated around the league, but his team-mates wouldn't swap him for anyone.
"He's such a versatile player," Saville said.
"A player of his size, to be able to shoot the ball as well as he does, it gives teams headaches.
"He made a commitment to come back from that injury and I pretty much trained with him the whole pre-season.
"He worked extremely hard and he made a commitment to stay in Wollongong even though he wasn't being paid, and it's paid off for him.
"(Hawks coach) Gordie (McLeod) wasn't sure what he was going to do with him for a long time because there was that question mark over his injury. But he's a key position for us. The way he's rebounding the ball, he's really competing.
"He's playing with a lot of confidence in himself and a lot of that comes from the hard work he's put in."
McLeod coached Davidson when they were with the Singapore Slingers in 2006-07 and knew what he was getting when they were reunited.
"He's a very, very smart player," McLeod said.
"He's a very, very good passer and understands the game very well. Like Sav said, he made a commitment and worked hard with Boyley (Hawks strength coach Dave Boyle), and because of that effort he put in, that's why we went with him.
"Being involved with Larry at Singapore and knowing the smarts he's got and his capabilities as a player ... he's a very good player at both ends of the floor and it's pleasing to see him getting the rewards for the effort he's putting in."
The league-leading Hawks (3-1) will need another strong game from Davidson when they host Townsville (3-2) on Saturday night.
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