Jake T - Best all-round footballer in the game!

[Snake]

I personally think that Jake is the best all-round footballer in the game today. The key here is "all-round". Taumalolo might be better at eating metres and some halves might be slightly better ball players, but factoring in Jake's bruising defence and as a complete package, I do not think there is a better player in the NRL.

A lot has been said about DCE needing a foil in the halves...he has it in Jake T funnily enough. Our attack has transformed over the pre-season and the master stroke is the use of Jake T as a genuine ball-playing threat. He has always had a little pass in his game, but he has taken it up a notch and is making wonderful decisions with the ball...when to play straight, when to use it out the back, when to take it to the line and when to get into first receiver. He is taking the pressure off our Captain. Daly, you have your foil; it's Jake T. Croker need only play a supporting role.

Jake:
hits like a Mack Truck.
makes yards.
knows precisely when to run and when to use the ball.
directs traffic.
supports up the middle (see try yesterday for evidence).

He is a marvel...doing absolutely anything and everything. Throw a bucket load of passion, commitment and competitiveness and you have the NRL's best and most valuable footballer, bar none.

 

[lsz]

I personally think that Jake is the best all-round footballer in the game today. The key here is "all-round". Taumalolo might be better at eating metres and some halves might be slightly better ball players, but factoring in Jake's bruising defence and as a complete package, I do not think there is a better player in the NRL.

A lot has been said about DCE needing a foil in the halves...he has it in Jake T funnily enough. Our attack has transformed over the pre-season and the master stroke is the use of Jake T as a genuine ball-playing threat. He has always had a little pass in his game, but he has taken it up a notch and is making wonderful decisions with the ball...when to play straight, when to use it out the back, when to take it to the line and when to get into first receiver. He is taking the pressure off our Captain. Daly, you have your foil; it's Jake T. Croker need only play a supporting role.

Jake:
hits like a Mack Truck.
makes yards.
knows precisely when to run and when to use the ball.
directs traffic.
supports up the middle (see try yesterday for evidence).

He is a marvel...doing absolutely anything and everything. Throw a bucket load of passion, commitment and competitiveness and you have the NRL's best and most valuable footballer, bar none.

Will get flamed for it but....as good as he is there are still of the Queensland mafia ahead of him in terms of the beat all round players going around at the moment - he certainly has the potential but he is not there yet

 

[Harvies elbow]

All he needs to do is add kicking in general play to his bow and he'll be even completer.

 

[Snake]

Will get flamed for it but....as good as he is there are still of the Queensland mafia ahead of him in terms of the beat all round players going around at the moment - he certainly has the potential but he is not there yet

Definitely would never flame you for having an opinion, but have to disagree. I can think of players who do certain things better, but I cannot think of a player that does a whole range of things better than Jake.

If you say Taumalolo is better than Jake, he is only better at running hard into the opposition like a pin-ball. He doesn't support up the middle, he doesn't ball play (he does offload occasionally), he doesn't hit as hard as Jake. He is not as competitive or outwardly as passionate as Jake.

Thurston is a great half, but he is not helping the forwards in the same way that Jake is helping our halves. My point is that "collectively", who is doing more than Jake and better?

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

His ball-playing ability reminds me of Nik Kosef, and that's a very good thing.

 

[lsz]

Definitely would never flame you for having an opinion, but have to disagree. I can think of players who do certain things better, but I cannot think of a player that does a whole range of things better than Jake.

If you say Taumalolo is better than Jake, he is only better at running hard into the opposition like a pin-ball. He doesn't support up the middle, he doesn't ball play (he does offload occasionally), he doesn't hit as hard as Jake. He is not as competitive or outwardly as passionate as Jake.

Thurston is a great half, but he is not helping the forwards in the same way that Jake is helping our halves. My point is that "collectively", who is doing more than Jake and better?

Okay I have to say it

Cam Smith is the most complete footballer at the moment. I also think JT is up there as yes Jake is doing some ball playing but I do not think you can look past JT attitude and what that does to their pack

 

[nightster]

Okay I have to say it

Cam Smith is the most complete footballer at the moment. I also think JT is up there as yes Jake is doing some ball playing but I do not think you can look past JT attitude and what that does to their pack

 

[bob dylan]

I think the goal kicking is the only thing we havent seen.

I ain't swapping him for anyone.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Goal kicking and a little chip and chase like Phil Blake and that’ll do me!!

 

[manlyfan76]

Nrl player of the round

 

[Snake]

It's like we have a rock in the middle third of the field nowadays.

 

[Highflier]

I personally think that Jake is the best all-round footballer in the game today. The key here is "all-round". Taumalolo might be better at eating metres and some halves might be slightly better ball players, but factoring in Jake's bruising defence and as a complete package, I do not think there is a better player in the NRL.

A lot has been said about DCE needing a foil in the halves...he has it in Jake T funnily enough. Our attack has transformed over the pre-season and the master stroke is the use of Jake T as a genuine ball-playing threat. He has always had a little pass in his game, but he has taken it up a notch and is making wonderful decisions with the ball...when to play straight, when to use it out the back, when to take it to the line and when to get into first receiver. He is taking the pressure off our Captain. Daly, you have your foil; it's Jake T. Croker need only play a supporting role.

Jake:
hits like a Mack Truck.
makes yards.
knows precisely when to run and when to use the ball.
directs traffic.
supports up the middle (see try yesterday for evidence).

He is a marvel...doing absolutely anything and everything. Throw a bucket load of passion, commitment and competitiveness and you have the NRL's best and most valuable footballer, bar none.

100% agree and on top of all that he is a Manly Junior and just loves Manly !!!! And in that you have someone who will help attract and keep the good players at Manly and show them the way foward on the field and off it by his actions not just his words .
Priceless!!

 

[Ned]

Goal kicking and a little chip and chase like Phil Blake and that’ll do me!!

Phil Blake chip and chase

Blake Leary chip and chase

 

[Dee Why Eagle]

Thought for a long time that he contributes more than Tom, but Tom is on bigger $... comes from being a back.
Will be interesting to see where young Ben eventually plays. In the Juniors he played anywhere from fullback to prop! How's that for versatility?

 

[Killer03]

Jake is fast becoming the most complete forward in the game.

His defence is just crushing. You can see the hits he does, and his technique....WOW!

His workrate is second to none.

And he is doing some very intelligent ball playing. And then that is adding to his ability to run the ball, as he's not getting gang tackled.

Very very smart player, and like @bob dylan said 'I aint swapping him anyone either'

 

[Lyonstomenzies]

Gifty Mk2

 

[double hoops]

DCE sure looked like the best all round rugby league player on the planet against the Eels. He just owned that first forty minutes. It was Cliffy like how much he dominated the entire game. Nothing against Jake, but Im not sure he is even the most complete player in our team. Never mind the League.

 

[maxta]

Not sure if he is the best or just 1 of the best....no doubt is right up there.
You have a solid case and present valid points, that’s for sure.
I would not want any player in the game to replace him and that is based on ability and the fact the kid is a true blue Manly junior, who bleeds Maroon and White.

 

[double hoops]

When Jake loses that whinge to the ref when things are not going his way. Bites his tongue and just dishes out some Jake the Muz pain to change the momentum of the game.
Then and only then. Will I consider the young fellow is starting to fit into his boots.

 

[R3]

It might sound childish but I always imagined if they could legitimately clone all the best players 17x each, which 'team of that player' would win ie:
17x Jurbos vs 17x Cam Smith = I believe, a win for the Jurbos.
I always thought a Team of fit Greg Inglis's could do it all out too..

I still run players like Kayln Ponga and Turbo through my imaginary cloned player tournament.
Imagination is a curious thing