Jake friend playing at lock!?

[David Bill Williams]

Have Jake Friend at lock or back up lock off the bench, he can tackle as much as he wants without nobody complaining.. he would never kick a ball again (thank god).. he would probably ever throw a forward pass again.

We could have Victor Radley at the starting 9, the 19 year old kid who has already excelled Friend in attack in a position that isnt even his primary.
Kurt Baptiste coming off the bench for Radley at hooker, quick attacking hooker, plenty of speed out of the ruck. Has been a fine backup for Hodgson at the Raiders.
And either Jake at starting lock, on the bench with Matterson out or have him in NSW Cup. I dont mind any :P

That would solve some of the attacking problems we have...

I would consider if IF I was Robbo, which I'm not. But maybe The Chook could put in a word for me

[chopstiks]

Will Robbo have the cojones to change the team.. starting this week I watch with bated breath

[David Bill Williams]

Will Robbo have the cojones to change the team.. starting this week I watch with bated breath

Probably not. It would look bad on him and the whole team if the El Captain gets dropped for a 19 year old.

If Friend keeps on going with the same shit next week with Keary back there are no excuses. BRING OUT THE PITCHFORKS!!

[Easts75]

Friend has dished this shit up now for a few years and has never had a positional switch or even a variation to his role. Not only this but the club extended his contract during his pathetic form, Friend is going nowhere

[4 the all in brawl]

Locks are bigger and more powerful these days.

Jake's tackling consists largely flops or slowing down the ball carrier for the bigger boys to complete.

He won't get dropped but at the moment Radley needs more time on the field and it is a disgrace that a 19 year old who probably doesn't consider himself a number 9 puts one of the club captains to shame.

He even pointed out what he was failing to do in his running and dummy half game a week or two ago and what does he do? ...The same old shit, 55 tackles and 2 runs for 3m. Must be a captain thing....

I would drop Friend to Wyong if his form doesn't pick up pronto, we have better options at lock including Butcher. But we know what will happen each Tuesday evening. 9. Friend (C).....

[The Brain]

I reckon wing ...thats where he runs sideways too most of the time

[Guest]

Locks are bigger and more powerful these days.

Jake's tackling consists largely flops or slowing down the ball carrier for the bigger boys to complete.

He won't get dropped but at the moment Radley needs more time on the field and it is a disgrace that a 19 year old who probably doesn't consider himself a number 9 puts one of the club captains to shame.

He even pointed out what he was failing to do in his running and dummy half game a week or two ago and what does he do? ...The same old shit, 55 tackles and 2 runs for 3m. Must be a captain thing....

I would drop Friend to Wyong if his form doesn't pick up pronto, we have better options at lock including Butcher. But we know what will happen each Tuesday evening. 9. Friend (C).....

I was going to write a post and then I read yours. That is exactly what I think too. You sir, must be a genius lol

[Johnny Tobin]

Locks are bigger and more powerful these days.

Jake's tackling consists largely flops or slowing down the ball carrier for the bigger boys to complete.

He won't get dropped but at the moment Radley needs more time on the field and it is a disgrace that a 19 year old who probably doesn't consider himself a number 9 puts one of the club captains to shame.

He even pointed out what he was failing to do in his running and dummy half game a week or two ago and what does he do? ...The same old shit, 55 tackles and 2 runs for 3m. Must be a captain thing....

I would drop Friend to Wyong if his form doesn't pick up pronto, we have better options at lock including Butcher. But we know what will happen each Tuesday evening. 9. Friend (C).....

Didn't he just get a new contract? I don't know what they see in him.

[4 the all in brawl]

I was going to write a post and then I read yours. That is exactly what I think too. You sir, must be a genius lol

Hey bro, great minds think alike....

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Left....

...Right Out.

[4 the all in brawl]

Didn't he just get a new contract? I don't know what they see in him.

I think it is the loyalty card he must have played, perhaps after Pearce packed his bags and left they may have resigned him to keep the team harmony or something. As I don't understand either.

Uncle Nick probably has too much love for him, this seems to blind Robbo too....

[Guest]

It wasn’t that long ago that Trent Robinson identified Jake Friend as a weak point in the team and attempted to sign Robbie Farah but he backed down on that move, I wonder what really happened there. It’s rather telling that Robinson didn’t back down Mitchell Pearce and signed Cooper Cronk and from the outside looking in had hoped Pearce would walk.

Now, Pearce is obviously not as great as Cooper Cronk but I would have been replacing the hooker before the halfback in that scenario. I’m not really sure either of them were to blame because it’s clearly a game plan that Trent Robinson has stuck to. I really do like and support our coach but I get frustrated with the same old tactics being persisted with when they’re not working and not having a ‘plan B’ for when things aren’t going out way.

It feels like this team hasn’t adapted in recent years and gets home on mental toughness a lot of the time.

[Thirteen]

Friend is an excellent running forward believe it or not. Dallas Johnson style. Small and tough and a good tackler.

[Johnny73]

They would not be angling for Dr. Hugo Strange if Friend was the golden child.

[4 the all in brawl]

Friend is an excellent running forward believe it or not. Dallas Johnson style. Small and tough and a good tackler.

But wouldn't he get rag-dolled like you say Butcher will? Locks are middle forwards these days and expected to back up the props with the hard carries and hopefully some late footwork or ability for an offload. Friend is just a tackling machine and more a flopper or speed bump to slow the opposition down. Johnson had the ability to make meters, something which Jake struggles to achieve.

Butcher is about 7 or so kg heavier and inch or two taller than Friend, can tackle all day plus carries the ball harder than Friend will ever do so.....

Butcher has more upside to him too and a hell of lot cheaper...