The breakout star of the 2021 season could again be wearing the Wests Tigers No.9 jersey.
Jake Simpkin is hardly a household name, but then again neither was Harry Grant this time last year. But just like Grant, Simpkin is expected to make his mark and eventually become the long-term replacement for Robbie Farah.
Simpkin will battle it out with the luckless Jacob Liddle for the starting dummy-half spot over the summer, the latter returning from his third-season ending surgery.
Unlike Grant, who is tipped to return to Melbourne pending a decision on Cameron Smith's future, the Tigers have a keeper in Simpkin. Like his predecessor, he is a Queensland product who has played representative football at junior level.
Grant, crowned the Dally M rookie of the year in a season that included a State of Origin debut in which he scored the series-winning try, has shown Simpkin a rapid rise is possible if opportunities are taken.
"That's everyone's dream, the way he has risen up," Simpkin said. "'H' put in a fair bit of hard work, so I have to do that as well and those sort of rewards can come my way."
Simpkin grew up supporting the Broncos and was being groomed to eventually make his name at the club. However, a meeting with Tigers coach Michael Maguire last year changed everything.
"It came out of the blue; my manager rang me and said 'Hey, Madge wants to have dinner with us tonight', it was when Magic Round was on in Brisbane," Simpkin recalled.
"I went out there, we met with him for a bit over an hour, and I liked what he was trying to grow at the Wests Tigers. I just wanted to be a part of that going forward.
"After that meeting, I was keen to be a part of the Tigers.
"I always wanted to wear that Broncos No.9 jersey being in Queensland and growing up supporting the Broncos as well.
"It was pretty tough to leave there, especially with my family being there as well. I just thought this was a better opportunity for myself and I was keen to learn and grow, to get out of my comfort zone. That's what I've done in Sydney."
Last season was Simpkins' first at the joint-venture outfit, but there were few opportunities to impress. The former Wynnum-Manly rake's only appearance was in the opening game for the NSW Cup season, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
"Last season sucked with COVID, it's been a while [between games]," he said. "It was obviously pretty challenging watching the boys play week in and week out and wanting to be with them playing footy.
"In saying that it was a really good year for my development. I sat back, watched and learned. I trained hard with Hodgo [former assistant coach Brett Hogson] and a few of the other coaches on my skill.
"I felt like, if anything, it was a blessing as well."
Simpkin has been
receiving specialist coaching from Farah once a week during the pre-season.
"It's been pretty special to have someone like him around, to pick his brain a bit," he said.
"It's been really good so far."
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/de...ng-star-to-watch-in-2021-20201203-p56ke5.html
