Jake Simpkin signed until 2026

[jbb/james]

There was a lot of talk that the injury may retire froggy who is a big part of the team. Maybe now he is back seibs is looking to fee up another spot by possibly moving him on. Buyer regret maybe

I dont know

What we need is a good ol fashion hooker off. Thats how things was solved in ol times

Condon, parker, matterson are clogging up the gateway

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Best not to speculate about ‘moving him on’.

I don’t think Seibold would be that obtuse.*

*Although in a fit of pique he chose to leave a perfectly good halfback out of the team vs. Souths. Just so we could concede two competition points before a ball was kicked.

 

[mave]

Best not to speculate about ‘moving him on’.

I don’t think Seibold would be that obtuse.*

*Although in a fit of pique he chose to leave a perfectly good halfback out of the team vs. Souths. Just so we could concede two competition points before a ball was kicked.

Free swing of the bat!!!

 

[manly al]

Looks like Froggy 's overall [ or perceived overall ] value is simply rated by the coaching staff as the best fit at 9 plus the Lawton back up option right now .
Looks like Gordy is a bit more in favor then Simpkin on current indications as well even though Simpkin's general stats at Blacktown seem quite reasonable and would even be slightly ahead in some facets of 9 play in comparison to any of the current grouping .
Would not read too much more into the situation then the again straightforward notion the combo of Froggy plus the backup from Lawton is the preferred option right now .
Could be a different matter however next season when Lawton moves on and for Simpkin's prospects then

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

I agree. I doubt they would be looking to move Simpkin on, when he is signed up for two more years, on the basis of one poor game a few weeks ago.

 

[lsz]

I guess you either carry an outside back or a hooker on the bench

They have chosen an outside back (even Ben T could fit in there) again this week rather than the 2 hooker rotation of previous weeks.

As always there are far smarter people than me to say if this is the right way to go but it looks like Seibs is going for a single hooker approach which is Crokes.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I guess you either carry an outside back or a hooker on the bench

They have chosen an outside back (even Ben T could fit in there) again this week rather than the 2 hooker rotation of previous weeks.

As always there are far smarter people than me to say if this is the right way to go but it looks like Seibs is going for a single hooker approach which is Crokes.

I'm sure Lawton will be getting plenty of reps in at training as dummy half just in case, even though he'll start at second row. Versatile players are like gold, especially at this time of year.

 

[lsz]

I'm sure Lawton will be getting plenty of reps in at training as dummy half just in case, even though he'll start at second row. Versatile players are like gold, especially at this time of year.

Very good call - his development into a starting second rower has saved that bench spot

 

[BOZO]

A coach goes into a game with certain players to fulfil a certain game plan
Jake Simpkin is not in the coaches game plan at this time

 

[Tragic Eagle]

I see it as poor recruitment.

 

[LeonardCohen]

I see it as poor recruitment.

Interesting. The way I see it, we've got Croker and an empty shelf. I do not rate GCKT as a serious future prospect. Lawton is off to the Cowboys. If Croker is injured again, it's step on up Simpkin, as you can be sure GCKT is not going to be asked to play 80. A roster needs three options at 9 and that's what we'll have moving forward. Simpkin hasn't broken the bank and is nice depth.

 

[eaglebuzz]

I see it as poor recruitment.

I don't, I think with a good preseason under his belt he'll be seriously challenging to make the 9 his own. He's the best hooker in our squad, Croker only beats him in defense.

 

[double hoops]

I love the Frog. But Simpkins has been impressive. Id have him on the bench.

I wonder if it is as simple as Seibs thinks our stacked bench of middles is our preferred path.

Seibs speaks of Frog like he is the captain. "He's the glue that holds this team together."

It may not be irrelevant that Simpkins and Jackie were both on the field at the same time on the weekend.

If Simpkins did indeed spend a short stint in the back row or lock coach might have plans to increase Simpkins utility value moving forward.

The reasoning, the need for someone on the bench to cover back row and centre, it would be consistent with Burbo sitting on the pine, given right now Lawton picks himself and can cover 9.

 

[Rocky]

Reckon Simpkin is more of a 2025 player. He is only 22 and has a good career ahead of him. I could see him getting the number 9 spot next year as Froggy perhaps transitions to another role, or drops out due to injury/concussions.

 

[BenR34]

2025 needs to be the time we move on from Croker as our starting 9. He's far too limited in attack with his poor service and questionable early kicks. He was only meant to be a stopgap at hooker while Fainu was stood down and we awaited the outcome of his charges. Brad Parker was the same in the centres and we finally moved on him him this season. Time we do the same with Croker next year

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

I love how for the best part of 5 years we as a collective have been calling for a specialist no.9. As nice a bloke as Froggy is he just isn't that guy. he can defend his nuts off but still makes too many silly errors especially in attack.
It would seem we could possibly have that specialist in Simkin ( as close as we have got since Jumpy McStabby) and he's already being pushed out the door apparently.
Our attack was much better for the few games he was in and yes he had a bad game before he was dropped but he's only young and can learn.

 

[DanielLehi888]

He will be a regular part of our 17 when Lawton moves on next year.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Seibs speaks of Frog like he is the captain. "He's the glue that holds this team together."

 

[Ben]

I see it as poor recruitment.

Not really, we have payed next to nothing for him for hooker cover. I think this year the tigers are paying full freight and the next few years only costing us $200k or close to.

 

[nightster]

I love how for the best part of 5 years we as a collective have been calling for a specialist no.9. As nice a bloke as Froggy is he just isn't that guy. he can defend his nuts off but still makes too many silly errors especially in attack.
It would seem we could possibly have that specialist in Simkin ( as close as we have got since Jumpy McStabby) and he's already being pushed out the door apparently.
Our attack was much better for the few games he was in and yes he had a bad game before he was dropped but he's only young and can learn.

Please explain?