NRL’s Jock Madden, Jake Simpkin, Reece Hoffman at home with West Tigers
He’s multi talented! Jock Madden is related to a Kangaroo, been named in the Tigers squad for the NRL Nines and according to his housemates, is a dab hand in the kitchen.
Inner West
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Humble beginnings made this NRL gun a better player
- Why this teen opted for AFL over NRL and rugby
- Why this Panther never wants to take a sickie
He’s the great nephew of a Kangaroo and according to his housemates a dab hand with a bit of chicken and salmon.
He’s got rugby league pedigree, a cheeky sense of humour and the work ethic to make something of himself in the NRL.
And according to his housemates Jock Madden’s not half bad at whipping up a health, tasty meal in the kitchen either.
LATRELL MITCHELL: Inspiring young Knights player
LIFELINE: From road construction to NRL team
BIG GOAL: Giant bid for AFLW/NRLW history
SPECIAL: Penrith Panther’s tribute to mate
Madden has been identified as a talent of the future and has been teamed with rising stars and Jake Simpkin and Reece Hoffman in a share house at Lidcombe as they hone their talent as development players at the West Tigers.
The trio’s close bond is helping them navigate their new lives in Sydney, far from Scone where Madden grew up and Toowoomba where Simpkin and Hoffman hail from.
“The banter is good is between us,” Madden said.
“We all help each other out and in the house Josh and I do the cooking. We make Reece clean because he’s a shocking cook.
“He cracked his first egg the other day.”
AUGUSTA: Teen golfer’s big break
SON OF A GUN: Making his own moves
Madden is also the great nephew of Maitland rugby league legend Don ‘Bandy’ Adams who played for NSW Country Firsts in 1955, 1956 and 1958, NSW Firsts in 1955 and for the Kangaroos in 1956 at home on their 1956-57 tour against Great Britain and France.
Adams passed away in Scone in March.
“They went over there on they went on boats, that’s how long ago it was,” Madden said.
“I heard how they trained on the boats and it took a couple of weeks to get there.”
Despite his league heritage, Madden initially played soccer before starting rugby league with the Scone Thoroughbreds.
“I always wanted to be a football player. Once I started. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” said Madden, whose goal is to make his NRL debut this season.
Madden, who models his game on Cooper Cronk’s – “he’s played in heaps of grand finals, is a really hard worker, does everything right, keeps the mistakes to a minimum’’ – said he is absorbing the knowledge of his Tigers teammates.
“They are really good blokes to be around. They teach me a lot, the likes of Luke, Benji, Josh Reynolds, they teach me a lot.
“I watch them, they talk to me after, Benji is really good about my role and what I need to do.
“His best advice is control the game, that if you control the game it will help the forwards. And be loud and vocal.’’
MORE SPORT
