Jake Friend proves his worth with star turn in Roosters Anzac Day victory

Jake Friend had a long and winding road to his current place as Roosters captain and linchpin and he once again proved his worth on Anzac Day.

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Jake Friend is rugby league right down to his nickname.

Nugget.

Or Nugz.

C’mon, what team doesn’t need one of those

Take Queensland.

That Origin outfit who, apart from having Cameron Smith already packed away in representative retirement, also boasts an incumbent No.9 who, in Andrew McCullough, is looking anything but flash with those struggling Brisbane Broncos.

So what chance Nugget?

For on Anzac Day, the little bloke was everywhere.

Not just providing the winning play -- when he jolted that Steeden from the grasp of St George Illawarra’s Matt Dufty with only minutes to play -- but also kicking 40/20s, orchestrating tries and throwing, as always, those 92kg around in defence like they were so much more.

Could this be the year Friend’s long Origin drought ends. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

So again, what chance Nugget for the Maroons?

Remembering that for so many years early on, this Nambour product was considered the greatest Queensland No.9 not named Smith.

And, sure, along the way plenty has happened.

At one point, Nugz working the counter of sandwich shop just metres from The Daily Telegraph offices.

Yet on this most solemn of Australian sporting days, it was the 29-year-old rake who starred.

Like with eight minutes to play in the first half, and the Roosters leading by just eight, when he popped out of dummy-half and -- bang -- kicked the Steeden away downfield.

Better, using that famed roll away from the SCG wicket to jag the Roosters’ third 40/20 of the year.

And then minutes later ... well, he was out of dummy-half again.

This time finding backrower Angus Crichton, who crashed over the top of Dragons playmaker Corey Norman to score.

But his biggest play?

That was one of the last.

And on Dufty.

The livewire No.1 who, for so much of this one, loomed as the hero.

Indeed, if James Tedesco is the greatest player in rugby league, what does that make a little bloke who stands him up cold?

Friend is the Roosters leader. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

And after having already beaten three Roosters to do it.

For this is what Duff Man did with this one on the line.

Not only bamboozling one, two, three members of rugby league’s greatest defence, but then leaving Tedesco sprawled out on the SCG turf -- having effectively been spun off his feet -- as he moved upfield like a firework fired horizontally.

And still, Dufty wasn’t finished.

Or at least not before motoring those plain black boots past Cooper Cronk to finish off 65m of unadulterated NRL brilliance.

And which point, the SCG went nuts.

Or at least those in Dragons jerseys.

And then with only minutes to play, Dufty looked set to do it again.

Taking a kick inside his own red zone, threatening to explode, when -- thwack -- the ball was jolted loose by a tackle that, within moments, saw Roosters prop Sio Siua Taukeiaho crossing for the matchwinner.

And as for who hit him?

Nugget.