If the England selectors had an ounce of intelligence between them they would send over a representitive and make sure Jack Reed stays true to his birth country England.
Who knows what is going through his head at present and before you know it the Queensland state of origin selectors will have him signed sealed and delivered.
Reed is odd's on to take out the rookie of the year for 2011 and has the world at his feet after his rapid rise to fame in the league circles in OZ.
Reed went to the Brisbane try-outs last Dec. and played in all 3 trial games before being selected for his debut in round 1 and has played in every game since even though his coach Grithin has felt he needs a rest he hasn't been able to due to origin and injuries with-in the Bronco's club.
He is 6' and 98Kg and plays centre or wing and is getter better with every game and in my opinion wouldn't be out of his depth in an England jersey after what he has displayed in 19 rounds of NRL.......a big ask yes, but this bloke is not your average debut player, he is 23 born in Castleford and if I was a pommie selector I'd be letting him know they are there and at least interested in him joining the squad for the up-coming 4 nations.
England selectors should move in now & fast
posted on 18/7/11
The story behind Jack Reed being over looked and pushed from pillar to post and never given a go up until the stage where he was heading back to England at one stage to give the 2nds a try and right up to today would make for a terrific sports serial of a kid who never said no.
posted on 18/7/11
I'm told that McNamara is aware of Jack Reed, and i heard he was going to make contact with him about playing for England this NH autumn in the 4 nations.
How much progress has been made about this i don't know.
posted on 18/7/11
u would have to say it would be a big surprise if reed chooses england.
posted on 18/7/11
He may get frustrated if he is not picked for SOO. Then again Adrian Lam played SOO and still played for PNG.
With luck Jack Reed will choose England.
posted on 18/7/11
hes looking like a future star and england can do with some but i still feel he will choose SOO over mid-season games against the exiles.
posted on 18/7/11
NRL clubs won't release English players for a game against the exiles. They didn't this year and they won't next.
I go back to my other point and repeat that Adriam Lam played SOO and played for PNG. Why can't Jack Reed play SOO and for England as well?
posted on 18/7/11
cos he can play for aus??
posted on 18/7/11
Fair play to the lad for going to those trials n it's great seeing what he can do. Looks good in defence and appears to have good hands. Worst thing he could probably do is play for England!
posted on 20/7/11
I see England have named a train-on squad without any Aussie contingent yet, obviously Ellis & Widdop will be included.
I've heard no word of anything re; Sam Burgess, he definitely isn't capable of returning for South's season but I haven't heard if he has been pushing himself in expectations of being fit for the 4 nations.
If it was an arm injury he would of been able to keep a fair bit of fitness but being a leg injury I really can't see Sam being selected.
Just quickly, I witnessed Widdop have his first brain explosion last weekend.................he was 20 yards out and Melbourne had a 3 on 1 situation with momentum and instead of drawing and passing he kicked it through for the winger........except it landed in the 2nd row of the grand stand..... I'm still not convinced Widdop is the No.6 answer for England even though he has been playing well, well but nothing special.
posted on 21/7/11
I know I have been blowing Jack Reed's trumpet of late, but this article below shows it is not just me that rates him highly
Cheers, I hope it's not to long........
Bribie boys make good for Broncos
By Wayne Heming 12:52 AEST Wed Jul 20 2011
Broncos teammates Matt Gillett and Jack Reed began their journey together on Bribie Island..
It's a far cry from high school football, but as the Broncos build momentum towards the NRL finals, the two 22-year-olds are striving to win the 2011 premiership alongside retiring Broncos legend Darren Lockyer.
It's no surprise Gillett, last year's rookie of the year, is there as a key member of the Broncos weaponry.
But for Reed, it's the buzz of a lifetime after spending last year playing for Norths in the Queensland Cup and watching his former classmate taking the NRL by storm.
He admits he didn't expect to do much more than debut in the NRL this season.
"I never thought I'd still be running around with the boys to be honest," said Reed who, with a strong finish to 2011, could yet emulate Gillett's rookie-of-the-year performance and challenge the likes of Manly's Daly Cherry-Evans and North Queensland's Tariq Sims.
"Just to get the opportunity to play one game was great and to still be playing is massive."
Their Morayfield High coach John Turner told AAP having two former students playing for the Broncos in the NRL was huge for the young kids in the area.
"Matt was always going to make it, he could do some amazing things, while Jack is self-made," said Turner who's seen thousands of kids come through their system.
Centre Reed, whose aggressive playing style is making him something of a cult figure with Broncos' fans, said backrower Gillett's debut season had been an inspiration for him.
So too were his words of encouragement when he joined the club for pre-season training late last year.
"Gillo is a big part of my background and my youth," Reed said.
"We used to hang out at school and off the field. We were in the Nippers together.
"It was an inspiration seeing him running around (for the Broncos) and killing it when I was in the Queensland Cup.
"When I came to the Broncos he pulled me aside and gave me some words of encouragement and convinced me I'd be alright."
Reed hasn't wasted any time winning admirers, including former Newcastle great Andrew Johns who recently commented how he already looked like a "200 NRL gamer".
Read laughs at suggestions he is becoming a cult figure with fans.
"I don't see that," he said.
"I just enjoy my footy. If people like watching me play, it just makes it more enjoyable to do."
Reed, who has the size and power to develop into a Tonie Carroll-style hitman, may yet end up joining Gillett in the Broncos back-row.
"It's part of the club's big picture I think," he said.
"I'm happy in the centres at the moment, it's my preferred position but if the coach thinks it's good for the team I'd definitely go along with it."
Playing in Lockyer's last season is something Reed finds hard to believe.
"The guy's an absolute living legend," he says.
"Playing with him at this age in his final year, you definitely want to play your best for him."