This young Jack Reed deserves everything that comes his way...without taking anything away from Reed, how lucky was he to be able to start his career outside of Darren Lockyer.....priceless....
MOVE over Benji, Billy and Jarryd - it looks like the NRL has a new poster boy.
This time last year Jack Reed was working on a factory floor and dreaming of one day playing in the NRL for the Brisbane Broncos.
Today, he is the most popular player in voting for the NRL All Stars team.
Incredibly, a week out from the close of voting for stage one for this rugby league dream team and this unlikely 23-year-old bloodnut who couldn't even crack the Broncos' top squad at the start of the year is now out-polling some of the game's most celebrated stars. Reed yesterday was almost speechless when told of where he ranks in the game's popularity stakes counting down to the February 4 clash on the Gold Coast.
HE was the final player signed in Brisbane's roster for 2011 - but 35 matches later and Jack Reed is the hardest working man in league. . .
"It's really unexpected," he said. "At the start of last season I wasn't in the top 25 (at the Broncos) and I was doing some factory work and training three days a week.
"I never expected anything like this."
It comes on the back of his recent selection for England in the Four Nations that followed a full season starring in NRL outside Darren Lockyer.
"I was just hoping to get one game of NRL with the Broncos but to have a season like this is unbelievable,' he said. "To play in a game like that would be another feather in the cap and it would be a huge honour."
This pommie done good....
posted on 18/12/11
Souths,I only saw him in the 4 nations and was very impressed indeed with his allround game.
He has a good build,enough pace for centre and a good pair of hands,coupled with good defence he can only get better.
What impressed me the most though was what seemed to be a built in ability to make the right decision when called opon.
A lot of young players make mistakes by sometimes taking the wrong options,but for a young player to make the right decisions instinctively it is priceless.
Lets just hope he gets a bit homesick for the Mother Country in a couple of years,he was seen out and about in Wigan with Sam Tomkins in between the 4nation matches which meant that some fans were coming to premature conclusions.
Cheers.
posted on 19/12/11
I think he arrived in OZ a bit to young to get homesick and considering his parents have got themselves a nice house on one of the Q'land Island's might make a return to England even harder........
I'd say your best chance of Reed turning out for Wigan is if he meets a nice girl from with-in, because we both know what sort of power a nice young lady can do to a man.....
posted on 19/12/11
Can't really comment on him as yet but what I have seen in the four nations is he looks very average but time will tell and I hope the lad gets more chances in the international venues.
posted on 19/12/11
Souths. Maybe that is why he was seen out and about in Wigan,spying out the local talent.
The sight of an alluring young Wigan lass strolling down the main street pie in hand is enough to turn any young lads head.
posted on 19/12/11
Indeed it is old mate....indeed it is...lol
Northern, take it from me, Reed has got what it takes to become a regular pommie back for years to come (injury free of course)..as theowdun said he can read a game and place himself in the right position that some 30 year old players struggle with.....all this in just 1 season of 1st grade, he can only get better I feel.....big man with speed is hard to beat..IMO
posted on 19/12/11
The way our national team is any good player would look world class in any position. Even me at my age! Reed hasn't impressed me as yet but times on his side and I honestly hope he comes better for our future.
posted on 19/12/11
I get to see Reed nearly every week and he has improved out of sight since round-1.
Especially when he stood up and took on more work when Brisbane were depleted during the SOO series.
I was reading where his coach wanted to rest him for a couple of weeks because of his huge efforts since coming into 1st grade but unfortunately injuries prevented Reed getting his spell that the coach thought he needed and carried on without ant lapse in form until his last game for England....Reed's work effort is second to none.
posted on 20/12/11
Agreed Souths, have seen alot of Aus games this season and rate him very highly, just have to hope he can carry it on into next season now that the other teams know alot more about his game.
posted on 20/12/11
So true RhinoDon........we call it 1st year syndrome.
I've seen some great prospects come along and not reproduce it the next year....WHY is anyones business.
* Usually with a very good 1st season comes a very big contract, do they relax and think they have made the big time.
* Does the opposition do their homework on him.
* Is he over coached during the pre-season where his natural game is some what receeded.
For every 3 - 4 players who make the headlines in their 1st year 1 - 2 struggle severly the next year.
In Reeds advantage he has got more maturity being 22 soon where most are 18 - 19 that struggle plus he is not all razzle dazzle 75% of why Reed made it is old fashioned hard bloody work on & off the field.
I'm sure Reed with rise to the top and stay there given he is relatively injury free....