Jake Clifford’s NRL debut has North Queensland’s other playmakers looking over their shoulder
THE emergence of Cowboys young gun Jake Clifford has North Queensland’s other playmakers wary over their futures, with the under-20s star set to make his NRL debut on Saturday.
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THE emergence of Cowboys young gun Jake Clifford has North Queensland’s other playmakers wary over their futures, with the under-20s star set to make his NRL debut on Saturday.
Cowboys coach Paul Green confirmed on Friday it was “more than likely” the Tully product would play tonight against the Dragons.
Widely tipped as Johnathan Thurston’s successor for next season, Clifford is one of the most exciting young talents in the NRL ranks.
And fellow playmaker Te Maire Martin admits the pressure from the 20-year-old has him on his toes ahead of next season.
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Martin, who arrived in Townsville last year, has played the majority of this season in the No. 6 jersey but does not feel as his place in the Cowboys side is guaranteed.
With Thurston to retire at the end of this year, Martin said Clifford was one player putting plenty of pressure on the current NRL side, but that it was the motivation he needed to take his form to another level.
“A little bit of competition is healthy,” Martin said.
“The jersey is never yours so every week you’re trying to win that jersey. Trying to hold your own position is the hard thing.
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“There’s a lot of competition from the lower grades but everyone’s trying their hardest to keep their jerseys.”
Clifford has been one of the standout players of the Intrust Super Cup this year with Northern Pride, and won man-of-the-match for the Queensland under-20s in their win over NSW last Wednesday.
Green said since Clifford had returned from the representative match, he had noticed a growth in his confidence.
Fullback Lachlan Coote is expected to drop out of the 17, with Ben Hampton to move to fullback and Clifford to be used as a bench utility.
“We’re thinking it through,” Green said of Clifford’s debut.
“He’s a young guy, it’s only a matter of time before he makes his debut given the year he’s had.
“We’re not one of the top sides, you don’t want to throw him in the deep end but I have full confidence if we go that way, he’ll handle it.
“The game he played last Wednesday night, he’s come back a lot more confident. I know it’s only under-20s but (Queensland) haven’t won (in the past) and he was man-of-the-match in that performance.
“All year he’s done what’s been asked of him. He’s spent the year playing QCup for Pride and I think he’s done a really good job.
“He’s a good young kid. He’s got a bit of cheek about him too which you want in your halfbacks. He loves his footy and he’s always trying to learn.”
Originally published as Jake Clifford’s NRL debut has North Queensland’s other playmakers looking over their shoulder