TIME IS ALMOST RIGHT FOR JAKE MULLANEY
By Wayne Cousins
6/05/2010 6:08:25 PM
Wests Tigers Toyota Cup coach Grant Jones is positive his impressive young full-back Jake Mullaney can handle the rise to the NRL when the time comes.
A deep thinking coach destined for higher honours, Jones has overseen the development and rise of Mullaney, one of the hottest prospects at the Wests Tigers.
His name is at the forefront of almost every supporter’s mind when talk focuses on who will be the next player to graduate from the U20s squad.
In 2009, it was back-rower Simon Dwyer and talented half-back Robert Lui. 2010 has already seen tough ball-playing prop Andrew Fifita and back-rower Jason Schirnack get a taste of NRL life. Fifita has been ultra-impressive.
Mullaney’s support play, ability to find the tryline, and his deadly boot saw him finish the 2009 Toyota Cup season as the leading pointscorer.
The full-back scored 27 tries in 26 matches and kicked 100 goals for 308 points – not bad for a former Eagle Vale-St Andrews half-back in the Western Suburbs competition.
His form warranted a full-time training position with hardened first graders over the summer and the chance to learn from the likes of Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and co.
Upon overcoming a slow start to the season, Mullaney has re-found his blistering 2009 form to again sit on top of the Toyota Cup ladder for most points. Mullaney's form has been one of the reasons why Wests Tigers is entrenched inside the top four.
Jones is adamant it is a case of ‘time’ and not ‘when’ Mullaney makes his NRL debut.
“In his head, he is ready. Each week, Jake is preparing himself for when that call comes,’’ Jones said.
“I have no doubt he will slot in really well with Benji and Robbie.
“Jake’s role has changed since last year. He is now getting his hands on the ball at first receiver, runs down short sides and puts little kicks in, so he is playing more of a Brett Hodgson type of role.”
Like Hodgson, Jones can already see a mark of professionalism in the 19-year-old. Both hail from the same junior club and Mullaney has confessed to being ‘a Hodgson fan’.
“Jake switches on every week. He doesn’t get distracted,’’ Jones said.
“I would think he is not listening to the publicity and hype surrounding him either.
“Jake is realistic too. He knows that when it comes to tackling on the line and returning the ball back, there is that physical aspect that is completely different in the NRL to the NYC.
“That’s going to be a challenge for him when the time comes. He is seeing that if he is not playing NRL at the moment, it is an opportunity for him to work on that part of his game and to get stronger in the gym.
“With Jake doing a full pre-season, he put on some weight. Now that he has started playing footy again and because he is a full-back and he does a lot of running, it is hard to put more weight on. It is going to be more so next pre-season.
“Jake is much more confident now after spending the off-season with the NRL squad. He will share his thoughts now whereas last year, he was just a quiet kid.
“If I suggest something to him now, he will add to it. When I talk to him, there are more discussion around strategies and he is coming up with his own views on it. He is helping me now with plays.”
Despite Mullaney kicking 35 goals in eight matches this season, Jones feels Mullaney needs to find consistency with the boot. He also wants him to keep working hard on his defence.
“I think Jake realises if he get his goal-kicking right, it might be more of a reason as to why Tim has got to play him,’’ Jones said.
“I’m not looking for points out of Jake each week. I am looking for improvement in his goal-line defence. How he organizes his defence around him, players coming back, how many support players there are. He needs to be able to talk defence in term of moving the forwards around.
“Jake needs to become more dominant there. He has had a couple of players held up already this season when they cross the tryline. They are the main areas I look for, not how many points he scores.”
As for when head coach Tim Sheens may call Mullaney up to take that treasured step into the NRL, Jones says the Australian coach is treading cautiously.
“Tim is very smart. He has seen it before with young players who were thrown in to first grade. It dents their confidence. It takes a bit of time for them to get over it,’’ Jones said.
“He doesn’t want to make a mistake with Jake. He knows he has got a good player but he also knows that he has got players in his squad that might be able to do a job so he doesn’t have to rush Jake.
“He really wants to get it right.”
http://www.weststigers.com.au/defau...=25395&time-is-almost-right-for-jake-mullaney
