Savage critique of Jake Friend

[PeeGee]

Are you claiming you have the script PG?

Haha yes I do. Similar to a playbook , but much simpler.
’catch, run, pass (not forward), catch, get tackled, do not drop ball, get up, play the ball (not forwards). repeat.’

[Rooster_6]

So Jake Friend's stats don't match up to Cameron Smith who's an immortal at the peak of his career? Seems to be an unfair criticism?

Friend's definitely running the ball far less than he used to and most likely to an extent that it's hurting his game but most dummy halves/sides made that adjustment a few years back when slow rucks became the norm and markers stopped being penalised for not being square.

Even Cameron Smith went from averaging 60m a game to 35m a game, 35 running metres per game which is what he averaged in 2017 is actually the lowest he's averaged since 2002 (his debut year).

Jake Granville is no different, in 2014 he averaged 55m per game, in 2017 he averaged just 18m per game.

Nathan Peats went from averaging 40-50m per game to averaging 23m per game in 2017.

Sides are awake to it, as soon as there's a quick play the ball the markers just stand side by side to stop any chance the dummy half has to capitalise because they know there's little chance they will get penalised for it. Paul Green was whinging about it all year and he's 100% spot on, Jake Granville has been taken out of the game because of incompetent officiating and cheating sides (all 16 sides included in that).

Sure you can buy an attacking dummy half like Korisau who's got that speed & acceleration out of dummy half that's almost impossible to contain even when cheating but what's not noted in that opinion piece is that Korisau averages twice as many missed tackles per game almost every other dummy half in the game & Manly had the worst defensive record of any top 8 side by some distance, 11th worst over all... I'm not sure Pearce will love that so much.

[The Thracian]

Friends game will improve 10fold with Cronk, imagine looking up on the 4th and 5tackle and seeing Pearce knowing it will be an inside ball or a bomb to no one, it would. Bore the crap out of any scent rake

[Danish]

I’m not much of a fan of Friend, but **** me how many dummy halves in the comp can be compared to Smith? He’s the best hooker in the comp and in my lifetime FFS.

I would like to see friend and Robbo make a concerted effort to drop his tackle count down by 10 or so per game. It’s just stupid getting involved in that many tackles, and gases him for the final 10 mins of each half under an interchange structure that can no longer handle a rotating hooker.

Friend needs to become an effective 80 min player, and having horse around him take over some of the tackling duties - as well as forcing him to stop trying to involve himself so much in defence - would be a major step towards that

[kakaruk]

Friend has gone backward the last couple of seasons to many tackles uses up the gas in the tank its as simple as that

[Bondicigar]

We have the worst hooker in the nrl

[Johnny.]

We have the worst hooker in the nrl

I thought that was back when Johnny Ibs was on the board. Most of the ladies he provided had five o'clock shadows.

[Mickie Lane]

I reckon Friend will sustain a season ending injury next year & that Victor Radley will come in & play No 9 & kill it.
Jake is probably the toughest & best tackling rake in the game but has no idea of reading a game & getting the Chooks on the front foot..

[Vasco]

I reckon Friend will sustain a season ending injury next year & that Victor Radley will come in & play No 9 & kill it.
Jake is probably the toughest & best tackling rake in the game but has no idea of reading a game & getting the Chooks on the front foot..

That's a weird prediction.