League: Thank God for the country boy

Jacob Lillyman (right) trains with Joel Moon in preparation for Sunday's big match against the Sea Eagles. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Jacob Lillyman is from farming stock in the far north of Queensland so a shift to Auckland to join the Warriors was a big move for the 25-year-old backrower.

He was convinced by fellow former North Queensland Cowboys players Micheal Luck and Nathan Fien and signed for two seasons.

"They spoke very highly of the place."

He lists the things he thinks and hopes he will bring to the Warriors. "Enthusiasm, attitude. A good work rate. I don't mind getting down and dirty."

By that he means tackling. He's happy to get up and back up to make more than one per set and he doesn't like missing them.

Lillyman was at boarding school for some years and made the Australian Schoolboys team in 2002 and then started with the Cowboys in 2003, coming off the bench in round 22 against Newcastle. In those early days he modelled his game on that of fellow Cowboy Luke O'Donnell, he said.

"He was so tough and aggressive and fortunately I got to play with him - I learned a lot."
He went on to become a regular starter and played 62 games for the club before being forced out by the salary cap.

A knee injury required arthroscopic surgery after the end of the 2007 season and in round 15, 2008, he tore his shoulder while playing the Storm, his last game for the Queensland club.

He admits he lost focus somewhat in Townsville. At times he felt he'd been in a comfort zone and it detracted from his football.

He hadn't achieved the level of game he wanted to in 2007-08 and hoped a change of routine and scenery would inspire him. "Lucky and Nathan told me they'd kept learning and improving here."

It was not until the Warriors' third pre-season trial against the Gold Coast that he was ready to return.

He played sufficiently well there to earn a bench spot for round one against Parramatta last weekend and when Ben Matulino came off with an injured ankle in the 10th minute, Lillyman replaced him and stayed on.

He was blowing a bit but the knee and shoulder are good and he's fired up to make his first run-on start for his new club at Manly this weekend.

"I like to get into the action early."

He has Sea Eagles backrowers Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart as Kangaroos players to rate himself against and is looking forward to the challenge at Brookvale Oval on Sunday.

"Watmough showed in the World Club Challenge what a class player he is, he's always a handful. There are few bigger tests in the game than Manly at Brookvale. We have to be ready from the first minute, we can't allow the game to come to us."

The 52-6 defeat by the Eagles at Manly in round three last year had been spoken about as had the four defeats they suffered to the club in 2008. "It's a massive test of where we're at," Lillyman said.

They had identified areas where they could improve after the win over Parramatta in round one, defence being one. "We let in a couple of soft tries. We could have taken some better options in attack. We've kept improving through the trials and game one so hopefully we can carry that on.

"We can't read anything into their loss to the Bulldogs last weekend. We have to have our defence fixed early."

An outdoorsman with a past including rodeo riding, he's been fishing and spearfishing since shifting across the Tasman and is enjoying life, which includes studying for a sports science degree.

Lillyman won State of Origin honours in 2006 and has played four games for his state up to last season.

Asked if he feared he might be out of the selectors' eyes over here, he replied: "My focus is on playing consistently for the Warriors. I just want to get plenty of games here. But it hasn't affected Steve Price and Brent Tate."

JACOB LILLYMAN
Born: March 7, 1984, Richmond, Queensland
Educated: Colombia Catholic College Charters Towers
Height and weight: 182cm, 100kg
Position: Second rower
NRL debut: For North Queensland Cowboys R22 2003, 62 games, 4 tries.
Warriors: Signed for two years, 1 game v Eels