Jake Simpkin
Personal information
Full nameJake Simpkin
Born (2001-10-16) 16 October 2001 (age 22)
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight91 kg (14 st 5 lb)
Playing information
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021– Wests Tigers 37 4 0 0 16
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022 Prime Minister's XIII 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 1 September 2023

Jake Simpkin (born 16 October 2001) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background

Simpkin was born in Toowoomba, Queensland and played his junior rugby league for Souths Tigers in the Toowoomba Rugby League.[2] He attended St Mary's College, Toowoomba before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos.[3][4] In 2018, while playing for St Mary's, he was named Player of the Carnival at the 2018 Confraternity Carnival.[5]

Playing career

Early career

In 2017, Simpkin represented Queensland under-16 in their 22–16 loss to New South Wales under-16.[6] In 2018, he played for the Western Mustangs in the Mal Meninga Cup.[7] In 2019, Simpkin joined the Wynnum Manly Seagulls playing for their Mal Meninga Cup and Hastings Deering Colts sides.[8][9] In June 2019, he represented Queensland under-18, scoring a try in their win over New South Wales under-18.[10] On 21 August 2019, Simpkin signed with the Wests Tigers.[11]

2021

Simpkin began the 2021 season playing for Western Suburbs in the New South Wales Cup.[12] In Round 6, he made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers, starting at hooker in their 18-14 loss to South Sydney.[13]

2022

Simpkin played a total of nine games for the Wests Tigers in the 2022 NRL season as the club claimed the Wooden Spoon for the first time.[14]

2023

Simpkin played a total of 19 games for the Wests Tigers in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished with the wooden spoon for a second straight year.[15]

References

  1. ^ Rugby League Project
  2. ^ "Toowoomba junior selected to make first grade debut". The Chronicle. 13 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Toowoomba's Simpkin moves closer to NRL dream". The Morning Bulletin. 12 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Jake Simpkin is the breakout Tigers hooker looking to emulate Harry Grant's rise". Sporting News. 15 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Confraternity Carnival: What you need to know". The Daily Mercury. 27 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Under-16 Origin 2017". 18th Man.
  7. ^ "Mustangs produce miracle comeback". Northern Star. 16 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup player of the year: full tally". QRL. 3 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Simpkin thriving in top squad after Development year". Wests Tigers. 17 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Under-18 Origin 2019". 18th Man.
  11. ^ "Wests Tigers sign young Queensland duo". Wests Tigers. 21 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Magpies fall to Bears in wet and gritty clash". Wests Tigers. 21 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Round 6 NRL team lists". NRL.com. 13 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Canberra Raiders hand out 56-10 NRL drubbing to Wests Tigers as Cronulla beats Newcastle Knights 38-16". www.abc.net.au.
  15. ^ "'Circus act' that summed up year from hell... and big call left for Benji: Wests Tigers Brutal Review". www.foxsports.com.au.