Doug Laing came to prominence as the goalkeeper with a youthful Bondi ASC team that won the New South Wales water polo championships in 1950. He was then chosen for the national team to compete against New Zealand even before he made his debut for the New South Wales side.
Reports from the Helsinki Olympics state that he was one of the better players in an Australian side hopelessly outclassed by European opponents. Laing also competed for Australia in 1956 where they placed 9th of the 10 teams. He retired after helping Bondi ASC retain the state title for the 10th successive team in 1957.
Laing went on to found a successful real estate company in Sydney.