Jake Friend - A major weak point !!!

[theGman]

Where was Mitchell today? Was he injured

FYI,
Ant Mitchell (wearing jumper 18) & Daniel Mortimer (wearing jumper 19) warmed up with the 1st grade squad before kick-off. And neither scored a spot on the bench . What was Smith thinking? His opposite got it right with Rein/Fein. Bad call Brian!

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Have to disagree with just about everyone posting in this thread I think.

Jake remains of the best hookers in the comp IMO and is at his best when playing the 80. His endurance and sustained effort when others would falter is a major part of his attraction. You dont get the same value using him as part of the interchange system.

If Mini and Mitch were our best yesterday, I would have given Jake 1 point.

[Cockadoodledoo]

It's so obvious Jake's missing that 2010 attacking partnership he enjoyed with Carney & Pearce. Anasta @ 5/8 does sfa for the team.
Fast Forward 2013.........Maloney/Pearce/Friend. I like it!!!

Why does Jake have to ride on someone else'e coat tails?

[Guest]

I agree... 1 out of 10 is about all he deserved.

[Guest]

Have to disagree with just about everyone posting in this thread I think.

Jake remains of the best hookers in the comp IMO and is at his best when playing the 80. His endurance and sustained effort when others would falter is a major part of his attraction. You dont get the same value using him as part of the interchange system.

If Mini and Mitch were our best yesterday, I would have given Jake 1 point.

there aren't many more worse hookers in the comp.

having said that, I thought he did ok against the dragons.

[Guest]

FYI,
Ant Mitchell (wearing jumper 18) & Daniel Mortimer (wearing jumper 19) warmed up with the 1st grade squad before kick-off. And neither scored a spot on the bench . What was Smith thinking? His opposite got it right with Rein/Fein. Bad call Brian!

add it to the thousands of other bad calls mastercoach smith has made over time.

[Guest]

there aren't many more worse hookers in the comp.

having said that, I thought he did ok against the dragons.

I was just thinking the same thing. Watch the replay guys. He has been struggling big time this year but I thought his performance was adequate yesterday.

[novice chook]

Perhaps if he wasn't required to make so many tackles he'd have more energy for attack. But until our forwards each make a few more tackles Jake will end up doing the lion's share of the defensive work because someone has to do it. And because he's involved in so many tackles it is not surprising he ends up missing a few.

I thought his game yesterday was a real improvement on what he's come up with recently.

NC

NC

[Guest]

Perhaps if he wasn't required to make so many tackles he'd have more energy for attack. But until our forwards each make a few more tackles Jake will end up doing the lion's share of the defensive work because someone has to do it. And because he's involved in so many tackles it is not surprising he ends up missing a few.

I thought his game yesterday was a real improvement on what he's come up with recently.

NC

NC

he's got no real attack even from the first minute of games. Can't blame having to do a lot of tackles at that stage of games.

[Guest]

The only reason he makes so many tackles is because the attacking team just keep running at him all game because they know:
a) They will not get hurt
b) They will get a quick play the ball.

So, if Friend makes 50 tackles a game, that is 50 advantages to the opposition.

[theGman]

Why does Jake have to ride on someone else'e coat tails?

Team Dynamics.
Smith/Cronk/Slater, Ballin/Foran/DCE, Payne/Bowen/Thurston.

[Guest]

I can't believe the change in this forums opinion of Friend this year from last year.

Last year 90% of the posters thought Jake was our best player. This year he is apparently the weak link (well aside from Anasta in whose case there is universal agreement on).

I agree that Friends form is down this year, but I still think he deserves his spot in the side. Yes - he needs to work on his speed of service from dummy half and his attacking options (which he does appears to be working on), but his work rate is phenomenal.

Sure it was a mistake not to team Friend up with Ant Mitchell - who offers something completely different - but that wasn't Friends mistake!

[Guest]

The only reason he makes so many tackles is because the attacking team just keep running at him all game because they know:
a) They will not get hurt
b) They will get a quick play the ball.

So, if Friend makes 50 tackles a game, that is 50 advantages to the opposition.

You are exactly right.

Friend has 2 big boppers either side of him if he is in the line yet every big forward carting it up for the opposition run at him. If he is at marker he rarely makes a 1 on 1 tackle he just jumps on board with who ever else is making the tackle. He has no sting in his defence & he has no vision or penetration out of dummy half. Even if the Roosters have the ball in attack in the 1st minute he looks the same as he does in the 80th. Slow.

[player 1]

add it to the thousands of other bad calls mastercoach smith has made over time.

i have just found a wonderful button - it is called "ignore".

Fred and Coggie just made it. I suggest some of you try it, like an air freshener it is.

[Guest]

By no means do i want Jake gone, but Mitchell needs to start imo.

Twice he's been in the run on side and twice we've got off to a flyer and went on to win the game.

As i said in the matchday thread, Jake poked his nose through on numerous occasions yesterday but just didn't have the pace to capitalise on it.

He should have scored atleast twice imo. Mitchell would have.

I don't forget his efforts last year though and believe he has to be there somewhere.

He was a nugget of gold amongst nuggets of shit last year.