Jake Friend

Jake Friend
Personal information
Born 1 February 1990
Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Playing information
Position Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008– Sydney Roosters 145 18 0 0 72
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011 Prime Minister's XIII 1 0 0 0 0
As of 20 April 2015
Source: RLP

Jake Friend is a rugby league player for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League. He plays as a hooker.

Career

The Queenslander joined the Roosters on a scholarship when he was 15 and, in 2008, progressed from SG Ball through to Toyota Cup to the NRL in just four months.

After a tumultuous 2009, he turned a corner and began to live up to his potential. His form was fantastic in 2010, where he began to develop nicely and became a more consistent player. He finished the season as the Roosters starting Hooker in the 2010 NRL Grand Final. However the Roosters were defeated 32-8 by the Dragons. Friend's good form continued in 2011 and despite a lacklustre year by the team, he was awarded the club's highest individual honour, the Jack Gibson Medal, after a season of consistent performances.

2013 was a true breakout season for Friend. Under the tutelage of new Rooster coach Trent Robinson, Friend took his game to a whole new level. His running out of dummy half is up there with the best and he has developed a very effective short kicking game. Friend was a crucial part of the Roosters season. His attacking game hits new heights he maintained a high work rate in defence with an average of 37 tackles a game. Friend managed to shine in a team containing stars such as James Maloney and Sonny Bill Williams, and he was awarded for his efforts as the Roosters won the 2013 Grand Final.[1]

He has continued his fantastic form in 2014, which started with a starring role for the Sydney Roosters in the 2014 World Club Challenge at hooker, where he was named man of the match in the Australian premiers' 36-14 World Champion victory over the Wigan Warriors in Sydney. He also won the Ashton Collier medal for Man of the Match in the 2014 ANZAC Game between the Sydney Roosters and St George / Illawara Dragons.

Friend is being hailed as the next Australian and Queensland hooker when Cameron Smith retires. He has also signed with the Sydney Roosters until the end of the 2015 Season.

Achievements

Controversy

On 17 March 2009, Friend was found guilty of drink-driving. He was disqualified from driving for 16 months.

On 27 June 2009, Friend along with Sandor Earl were charged with assaulting a woman in Sydney. It was alleged Friend & Earl punched the niece of ABC radio commentator David Morrow at The Tank nightclub in The Rocks.[2]

On 13 December 2009, Friend was arrested and charged by police following an altercation with a taxi driver.[3] As a result the Roosters terminated his contract. In May 2010, Friend was re-instated in the Roosters team after counselling and rehabilitation.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/nrls-most-improved-players-in-2013-11738/
  2. ↑ Jackson, Glenn; Walter, Brad (14 December 2009). "Career in the balance: Roosters suspend Jake Friend". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. ↑ "Roosters hooker Friend arrested again". Brisbane Times. 13 December 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  4. ↑ http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/out-of-the-kitchen-and-into-cauldron-for-friend-20100511-uuxc.html
  5. ↑ "Friend on prescription drugs charges". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.

External links