Dont bag Jake Friend! He makes 60 tackles a week!

[Lydon]

I still can’t get over the way Robinson jumped to the defence of Friend in the press conference after 1 decent showing against the Knights a couple of weeks ago..
Seems like he’s been waiting for a good showing from his hooker to stick it back to the fans and media.
Since then Friend has been mud and Robbo has crept back into his hole..
Robinson is Mr.nice guy and his blind loyalty to his failing players (ala Pearce back in the day) I have no doubt will eventually cost him his job!

[Spanner in the works]

The simple fact is at the moment we look like a more dangerous team with Radley at hooker.

My issue with a lot of these players that make 50+ tackles in the game is that they rarely have any sting in their defence. Friend is like this. He rarely puts players down on his own, but rather hangs on for dear life until someone else can help out. He looks like a tiny little backpack when he is being carried by a big forward.

His penalties drive me nuts. For a captain, who is meant to set the example by which other players play, to give away so many costly penalties is disgusting. (Weirdly enough, JWH and Maloney were part of that leadership group over the last few years, and they are known culprits).

My other issue with Friend is that there has never really been any spark out of dummy half from him. He scoots on rare occasions, but it's pretty well pass the ball to the half or one out forward; pass the ball to the half or one out forward; pass the ball to the half or one out forward; etc. Considering how much he handles the ball and how long he has been in the game, I want him to identify weak defences on his own and take advantage of it, and I want his service to speed up.

[Half time]

I cant agree with that. Friend is actually really good at hit & stick, its what he is best at. Thats why he remains in the team..

Your choice of word "hit" is being very generous. I don't think I've ever in the last decade actually seen him pull off any sort of hit in a tackle. It's more a case of grab and cling on for dear life (while the attacking ball carrier carries him for a few metres) until other defenders come in to do the job of actually bringing the attacker to ground. In many ways, he's like a speed bump that slows opposition players down but doesn't stop them.

[Mickie Lane]

Your choice of word "hit" is being very generous. I don't think I've ever in the last decade actually seen him pull off any sort of hit in a tackle. It's more a case of grab and cling on for dear life (while the attacking ball carrier carries him for a few metres) until other defenders come in to do the job of actually bringing the attacker to ground. In many ways, he's like a speed bump that slows opposition players down but doesn't stop them.

What about we meet in the middle, grab & stick.
I actually think Radley is better than Friend but the coaching staff & the players dont. I think Friend is a very tough little Rooster who would have been more suited to the eras of the 70's & 80's. I give him more credit than thinking he is a speed bump. Yes he does need other defenders to help but so does every other player thats why there is always 3 men in a tackle. The one part of his game that is on song is his defence the bloke gets targeted every week by big boppers & he does a pretty good job. Like I said he is a tough little Rooster & like I said in another post the thing that coaches & players rate the highest is toughness, thats why he is in the side & captain.