Jake Clifford

Jake Clifford (born 2 January 1998) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback and five-eighth for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL.

Jake Clifford
Personal information
Born (1998-01-02) 2 January 1998
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
Playing information
PositionHalfback, Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018– North Qld Cowboys 35 6 19 1 63
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018 Prime Minister's XIII 1 0 0 0 0
As of 24 November 2020
Source: [1]

He is signed to the Newcastle Knights for the 2022 season.

Background

Clifford was born in Cairns, Queensland, Australia and was raised in Tully, Queensland.

He played his junior rugby league for the Tully Tigers, before being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.[2][3]

Playing career

Early career

In 2013, Clifford played for the Northern Pride's Cyril Connell Cup side. A year later, he captained the side in their Grand Final victory over Townsville.[4] In 2015, he moved up to the Northern Pride's Mal Meninga Cup side before moving to Townsville in 2016, where he played for the Townsville Blackhawks' Mal Meninga Cup side. In 2017, he played for the North Queensland Cowboys NYC side and was named in the 2017 NYC Team of the Year. On 27 September, he was named the 2017 Dally M NYC Player of the Year at the Dally M awards.[5]

2018

On 17 February, he played off the interchange in a pre-season loss to the Wests Tigers, scoring a try.[6]

Clifford started the 2018 season playing for the Cowboys' Queensland Cup feeder side, the Northern Pride. On 16 April, he re-signed with the Cowboys until the end of the 2020 season.[7][8] On 24 June, he was 18th man for the Queensland Residents side.[9] On 11 July, he started at halfback for the Queensland U20 side, scoring two tries and being named Man of the Match in Queensland's first ever win.[10]

In Round 19 of the 2018 NRL season, he made his NRL debut against the St George Illawarra Dragons.[11]

On 29 August, he was named Intrust Super Cup Halfback of the Year and Rookie of the Year at the QRL Gala Awards night.[12] On 13 September, he was named the Cowboys Rookie of the Year at the club's presentation ball.[13]

On 6 October, Clifford earned his first senior representative honours, starting at five-eighth in the Prime Minister's XIII's 34–16 win over Papua New Guinea.[14] A week later, on 13 October, Clifford captained the Junior Kangaroos to a 40–24 win over Junior Kiwis, being named Man of the Match.[15]

2019

Clifford entered the 2019 pre-season in a battle with Te Maire Martin for the vacant halves spot left by the retirement of Johnathan Thurston. Despite scoring a hat trick in a pre-season trial against the Gold Coast Titans, Clifford lost out to Martin and began the season playing for the Northern Pride.[16] He made his season debut in a Round 3 loss to the Cronulla Sharks, playing five games before being dropped back to the Pride.[17] Clifford returned to first grade in the Cowboys' Round 12 win over the Gold Coast Titans. In Round 13, he scored his first NRL points, kicking four goals in a 20–22 loss to the Manly Sea Eagles.

In Round 17, he scored his first NRL try and kicked the game winning field goal in the Cowboys' Round 17 win over the Sydney Roosters.[18] In the Cowboys' Round 22 loss to the Newcastle Knights, Clifford suffered an ankle injury and missed the final three games of the season.[19]

On 16 December, Clifford re-signed with the Cowboys until the end of the 2021 season.[20]

2020

In February, Clifford was a member of the Cowboys' 2020 NRL Nines winning squad, scoring a try in their final win over the St George Illawarra Dragons.[21] He began the 2020 season playing for the Northern Pride.

In Round 3, he returned to first grade, playing 10 games at halfback before being dropped by interim head coach Josh Hannay after a Round 12 loss to the Canberra Raiders.[22][23] In Round 17, he was recalled to the side, scoring a try in the Cowboys' win over the St George Illawarra Dragons.[24] Clifford finished the season as the Cowboys' halfback, scoring a try in their Round 20 win over the Brisbane Broncos.[25]

In November, Clifford signed a 2-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2022.[26]

Achievements and accolades

Individual

Team

Statistics

NRL
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season[27]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2018 North Queensland 600—00
2019 North Queensland 1531869.2149
2020 North Queensland 143150.0014
Career totals 35 6 19 67.9 1 63

References
  1. "Jake Clifford - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. "Official NRL profile of Jake Clifford for North Queensland Cowboys". North Queensland Cowboys. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  3. "Tully boy Jake Clifford set to be future Cowboys star". Cairns Post. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  4. "Connell Cup Final - Stingers v Pride". Queensland Rugby League.
  5. "Clifford claims historic Holden Cup award". NewsComAu. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  6. "JT returns but Tigers tame Cowboys in Cairns". National Rugby League. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  7. "Johnathan Thurston NRL successor: Cowboys half Jake Clifford has Ash Taylor qualities". Fox Sports. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  8. "North Queensland Cowboys extend young star Jake Clifford's contract with eye on post-Johnathan Thurston era". National Rugby League. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  9. "Clifford stands tall under weight of great expectations". Queensland Rugby League. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  10. "Clifford leads the way in QLD breakthrough". Queensland Rugby League. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  11. "Final team list: Cowboys v Dragons". North Queensland Cowboys. 21 July 2018.
  12. "Clifford named Q-Cup Rookie of the Year". North Queensland Cowboys. 29 August 2018.
  13. "Our 2018 award winners!". North Queensland Cowboys. 13 September 2018.
  14. "After pitch invasion, PM's XIII prevail". National Rugby League. 6 October 2018.
  15. "Junior Roos defeat Junior Kiwis despite incredible try". National Rugby League. 13 October 2018.
  16. "NRL 2019: North Queensland Cowboys Jake Clifford stars with hat-trick in trial win over Gold Coast Titans, pressure on Martin". 23 February 2019.
  17. "NRL 2019, Round 8 | Cowboys star Josh McGuire rages after injury in win over Titans". NewsComAu. 3 May 2019.
  18. "Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". www.couriermail.com.au.
  19. "Updated team list: Round 23 v Penrith". North Queensland Cowboys. 22 August 2019.
  20. "Clifford signs contract extension". North Queensland Cowboys. 16 December 2019.
  21. "Cowboys out-gun Dragons in the west to take Nines crown". National Rugby League. 15 February 2020.
  22. "NRL Teams Talking Points: Bennett's coy Bunnies switch, Titans shake up spine". Fox Sports Australia. 27 May 2020.
  23. "Morgan returns, Norman dropped as coaches ring changes". NRL. 4 August 2020.
  24. "Cowboys v Dragons: Clifford at halfback; Fuimaono returns". NRL. 6 September 2020.
  25. "Brisbane get wooden spoon as Cowboys finish on a high". NRL. 24 September 2020.
  26. "Jake Clifford joins Knights for '22 season". Newcastle Knights. 24 November 2020.
  27. "Jake Clifford - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project.
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