Well done Jake

[Louis N]

Jake's effort and defensive commitment have never been doubted. Last night he was magnificent and read the Cowboys attack brilliantly. The try saving tackle on Thurston as valuable as Radley on Walker earlier in the season. We don't win without Jake. Rooster 6 also mentioned Tedesco in an earlier comment. How good was he? Fantastic game by Teddy, constantly menacing around the ruck and gave our attack another dimension in Keary's absence. I thought we played a more solid game without Luke and the backs were not crowded at all.

[eddie]

Jake's effort and defensive commitment have never been doubted.

That's true.
When he was copping a lot of stick earlier this year, I cant recall anyone knocking his commitment in defence.Some were questioning the effectiveness of his tackles, but I cant buy into that.
His passing game and dummyhalf play have been sub-standard for a couple of seasons..............buggered if I know how he suddenly turned that around, but I'm glad he has.

[stsae]

That's true.
When he was copping a lot of stick earlier this year, I cant recall anyone knocking his commitment in defence.Some were questioning the effectiveness of his tackles, but I cant buy into that.
His passing game and dummyhalf play have been sub-standard for a couple of seasons..............buggered if I know how he suddenly turned that around, but I'm glad he has.

Cronkite summed Jake up very well IMO ‘He puts his head into places I won’t put my boot’.

Like the whole squad the trust has been built by some awesome defence. Now the confidence to attack isn’t a worry. We have proven to ourselves time and time again we can defend the worst errors possible most often.

We look loose and relaxed in attack now.

[Johnny Brass]

Jake's effort and defensive commitment have never been doubted. Last night he was magnificent and read the Cowboys attack brilliantly. The try saving tackle on Thurston as valuable as Radley on Walker earlier in the season. We don't win without Jake. Rooster 6 also mentioned Tedesco in an earlier comment. How good was he? Fantastic game by Teddy, constantly menacing around the ruck and gave our attack another dimension in Keary's absence. I thought we played a more solid game without Luke and the backs were not crowded at all.

He saved another try in the first half as well, I think it was on Hess and Teddy finished him off if I remember correctly.

[Roosterfarian]

I liked the fact that he didnt overplay his hand as much this week. Got quick ball to Cronk and it paid dividends.

He needs to stick to the darting runs and great defence like last night. Definitely picked up his game..probably his best game for many years.

[ithepact]

Gotta add my tuppence ... great stuff Jake but am flabbergasted at where this has suddenly come from!.. does anyone have an idea?

[The Axe]

Great form Jake. Kept putting in

[busted chook]

The bloke just puts in every week. I guess it looks a lot better when we are winning but the effort that he puts in has been the same regardless. That's why i have a laugh when people have said that he is fat and lazy, unbelievable really. As for the try savers and stopping a line break he has been doing that all of his career its just that its not a flashy big hit but just as effective in the end. The amount of ground he covers for those "just in case" plays is ridiculous.

In regards to his attack i think that he has been following the coaching team's plan for the past few years. You don't go from having a year like 2013 unless something is changed. I believe when we had such a dominate half in Mitchell Pearce the plan seemed to be to get the forwards rolling and get the ball into Mitch's hands, with Cooper he has allowed the players around him to play more footy which in turn makes us far more dangerous.

Don't get me wrong i believe Jake does still take the wrong option at times because we play flat and fast and also he is human after all. I do like seeing him dart out of dummy half and would love to see Coops, Keary and Teddy get around him when he does just as other posters have said.

[Lydon]

That's true.
When he was copping a lot of stick earlier this year, I cant recall anyone knocking his commitment in defence.Some were questioning the effectiveness of his tackles, but I cant buy into that.
His passing game and dummyhalf play have been sub-standard for a couple of seasons..............buggered if I know how he suddenly turned that around, but I'm glad he has.

Well said Eddie,totally agreed..

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

I have been on his case a few times , but hats off to Jake Friend tonight , he was everywhere in defence.
Added a few good runs and kicks , great game.

I second this. Glad to see he isn't overplaying his hand. His kicking game has improved slightly as well

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Me and Jake go back a looong way..

I was his champion earlier in his career when most, it seemed, wanted him gone.

Then I fell out of love and had divorce papers prepared.

Even this year I wanted him playing left right out. But he now is complementing and even igniting our attack. As he must do. Defence never in question...best defensive rake in the game.

This week against the benchmark Cookie Monster will tell the tale. If he wins that trick, we win the game. Maybe even consider a second honeymoon.