HE could easily go by the nickname Jack the Ripper, a flame-haired former bricklayer who is living proof that dreams never die in rugby league.
A year ago, Jack Reed was flat out making waves in the Queensland Cup. Nine months ago, when he lobbed at the Broncos for a pre-season to reward his work ethic at Norths Devils, no one in the NRL had heard of him.
Today, after a stunning rookie season at the Broncos, he is Queensland’s next big thing – and a young gun set to become embroiled in a representative tug-of-war.
Born in England, Reed is eligible to represent the old enemy at the end-of-season Four Nations, but the Maroons are hoping to strike first by naming the Broncos sensation in their QAS Emerging Origin squad this summer.
The 22-year-old has yet to officially declare his allegiance, but says he would find it hard to turn his back on a Queensland jumper.
“I’ve got an English passport but I’d love to play for Queensland,” said Reed.
“They (England) haven’t called me yet. It hasn’t really been brought up with me, so I’m not thinking about anything like that (playing for England).
“At the moment I’m focused on doing well for the Broncos and just enjoying my footy.”
One of Reed’s biggest fans is Queensland and Broncos skipper Darren Lockyer. It took just a handful of training sessions at Red Hill for Lockyer to privately declare Reed an NRL-standard player.
And after playing alongside him at the Broncos, Queensland’s most-capped player has no doubt the 98kg centre or back-rower has what it takes to make the jump to Origin football.
“I’m sure he’s on (Queensland coach Mal Meninga’s) radar now,” Lockyer said. “I think for Jack it’s a matter of keeping his head down now and having a good attitude towards his footy and the rest will come.
“People are waiting for him to taper off but he just keeps producing every week. “Against the quality teams, he is doing it every week. He looks like he’s been playing (first grade) for 10 years.”
Born in the West Yorkshire town of Airedale, near Castleford, Reed almost returned to his country of birth two years ago to revive his rugby league career after being overlooked by NRL side Canberra.
The Bribie Island junior only aborted his planned move to the UK when he was thrown a lifeline by the Norths Devils, who ultimately recommended Reed to the Broncos this season.
Reed’s manager Jim Banaghan recalls how close the tough-as-nails utility came to heading abroad.
“Canberra gave him a cursory glance really,” he said. “Jack hung in there, but whenever he was named in their (Souths Logan’s) Queensland Cup side on a Monday, Canberra would drop some NRL players back and he’d be pushed back to FOGS Cup on a Friday.
“He got disheartened. He was going to leave and have a season playing second division in England.
“He’s got British parents, but he decided to have one last crack at Norths as a 21-year-old and it was there that Mark Murray (Norths chief executive) spotted Jack and was really impressed with his attitude.
“In the 20 years that I’ve been doing this, Jack is one of the greatest success stories I’ve seen in rugby league.
“A lot of doors have been closed on him but it hasn’t stopped him. He’s met every challenge so well.”
And Jack’s unforgettable year has not gone unnoticed by the men that matter, with both Mal and FOGS Executive Chairman Gene Miles – a Queensland selector – having big wraps on the young Bronco.
“Jack has been sensational for the Broncos after getting his chance, and I think everyone can see that he is a player of genuine quality,” Gene said.
“He has expressed a desire to play for Queensland, and I would say he would be near the front of the queue when the emerging squad is named in a few weeks.
“Truth be told, he came up in discussions to play Origin this year when we were being kicked around with injuries in the backline, so that shows you how highly he is regarded.”
Mal agreed, saying Jack’s youth put him in the box seat to be one of the leading contenders for the Maroons’ “generation next”.
“I really like his style of play, and Jack is one of the blokes like Matt Gillett and Marty Kennedy at the Roosters that we will be looking to introduce into the system over the next couple of seasons.
“I think what Darren said is right: The best thing for Jack is to keep working hard, and the rewards will come.”
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