Jake Clifford

Was probably Cliffords best all round game in FG to date.

His kicking game was spot on all night and his defence was the best it’s been in FG.

He didn’t run the ball that much but picked his moment great at the end there and showed great composure to hold onto the ball while in clear space. Also to not go for a snap field goal effort after juggling the ball and instead passing off to Drinkwater who in turn gave it to Val was great to see.

If there is one critique from last nights game it would be his ball playing. Did really well for the Cowboys first try in engaging the defence before passing out wide but that’s about it.

Hopefully continues to improve as it’s his spot to lose now with Hampton being out for 10 or so weeks and there being nothing in reserves to come in except make shift half’s.
 
cowboyman said:
Was probably Cliffords best all round game in FG to date.

His kicking game was spot on all night and his defence was the best it’s been in FG.

He didn’t run the ball that much but picked his moment great at the end there and showed great composure to hold onto the ball while in clear space. Also to not go for a snap field goal effort after juggling the ball and instead passing off to Drinkwater who in turn gave it to Val was great to see.

If there is one critique from last nights game it would be his ball playing. Did really well for the Cowboys first try in engaging the defence before passing out wide but that’s about it.

Hopefully continues to improve as it’s his spot to lose now with Hampton being out for 10 or so weeks and there being nothing in reserves to come in except make shift half’s.
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So no chance he gets released this year?
 
Owey said:
What if Dearden moved north early?
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Would probably change it then. Also have Asi thats now available for selection who can play in the halves but prefers centre’s. So who knows.

I’d say without the Hampton injury he was as good as gone once the development players could be selected as backup but now that injury throws a spammer in the works.
 
Kurriboy said:
I thought that guy was never wrong?
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In fairness, Cowboys have since released Greig to Eels and Marsters to Titans without any pickups during the year (so far), so releasing another player in Clifford would be risky, particularly given how other teams such as ours and Roosters seem to be plumbing our depth to name a 17-man side each week.
 
cowboyman said:
If there is one critique from last nights game it would be his ball playing. Did really well for the Cowboys first try in engaging the defence before passing out wide but that’s about it.
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This is definitely one of the two reservations I have about him - doesn’t engage the line and pass enough, especially for a guy who’s actually a deceptively strong and fast runner of the ball. A bit too content to stand flat footed and dump it on to a forward in good ball. Should be more threatening and create a bit more than he does. Other issue is maybe a related one, that he can sometimes drift through games a bit, too content to just follow the play and wait for his kick. He should get his hands on the ball more. Both things which can be worked on with coaching of course, Adam Reynolds was a bit of a kickbot when he started in first grade and definitely has become more of a fulcrum on set plays with the way he draws guys in and creates space.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
This is definitely one of the two reservations I have about him - doesn’t engage the line and pass enough, especially for a guy who’s actually a deceptively strong and fast runner of the ball. A bit too content to stand flat footed and dump it on to a forward in good ball. Should be more threatening and create a bit more than he does. Other issue is maybe a related one, that he can sometimes drift through games a bit, too content to just follow the play and wait for his kick. He should get his hands on the ball more. Both things which can be worked on with coaching of course, Adam Reynolds was a bit of a kickbot when he started in first grade and definitely has become more of a fulcrum on set plays with the way he draws guys in and creates space.
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Juniors and first year of Q-Cup he ran the show and dominated games on a regular basis through his ball playing and running ability.

Genuinely feel it’s through a lack of confidence that he has gone in his shell but he has previously shown he can do it.

Could be that he has peaked already but I don’t believe that and think he could be a very good half in the future.
 
Yeah a bit like with Aidan Sezer before him, I thought Jake would be a gun from the first time I saw him if he just had a coach who believed in him & was willing to work with him. Was always shocked he wasn’t an automatic selection at the Cowboys once Thurston retired given how methodical about field position Paul Green is as a coach, would have thought he was the kind of half you’d want to cultivate. Have been very keen for us to sign a proper second half for pretty much most of the time Pearce has been at the club & was absolutely stoked when we nabbed Clifford. When you don’t have a huge amount of cap space for a key position, you have to buy low on someone and help them improve, and the stuff he’s already good at, he’s way better at than any players we have now & fills a big need.
 
For mine Harv the kid never got a fair go and indeed his confidence has been at boot level. Saturday night he really saved the game for the Cowgirls with that 40/50 metre run and off load to get it to 18-18. Next season I think he will improve out of sight and will, hopefully, learn a lot from Mitchell.
 
I've always been impressed with Clifford when he's played against us. He clearly has a touch of class about his playmaking. I was very happy we signed him and I expect we will have got him pretty cheap.
But realistically, he is a mid range depth signing for us - on the same level as Mason Lino - probably signed as a replacement for Mason in fact.
If he steps up and replaces Pearce next year or the year after he will be our best buy since Ben Kennedy.
I expect our recruitment people are still putting aside salary cap and looking around for a million dollar half to replace Pearce, but if Clifford, Crossland, Camroux or someone else we find internally or externally can grab that role for a lot less money, we'll be laughing.
 
I would bet my life’s savings on the halves next year being 6. Clifford 7. Pearce. I’ve been wrong plenty of times before but I’m confident as can be that the club views this kid as a ten year player for us. You don’t just hand a kid a jersey and if he comes down and mails it in he’s in as much danger as anyone, but he performs even close to what’s expected the kids you mentioned + Bailey Hodgson are competing with each other for the fourth spot in the spine in the future, not with Brailey, Clifford & Ponga for one of their spots.
 
People keep saying that O'Brien will pick him because he's brought him here.
I've seen nothing from O'Brien to suggest he picks on anything other than merit.
The days when Brown promised Joe Wardle a firstgrade spot and picked him when his form didn't even look good enough to hold his spot in reserve grade are over.
I hope Clifford does well enough next pre season to be an automatic selection in round 1, but he'll have to earn it, and his competition, Crossland and Hoy, train their backsides off.
 
Billy said:
People keep saying that O'Brien will pick him because he's brought him here.
I've seen nothing from O'Brien to suggest he picks on anything other than merit.
The days when Brown promised Joe Wardle a firstgrade spot and picked him when his form didn't even look good enough to hold his spot in reserve grade are over.
I hope Clifford does well enough next pre season to be an automatic selection in round 1, but he'll have to earn it, and his competition, Crossland and Hoy, train their backsides off.
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Geez I have zero memory of this Joe awardee guy 😂 17 games though!
 
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