1. Jake Friend spent his entire first-grade career, spanning 2008 to 2021, with the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League ; at the time of his retirement, he was the club's co-captain.
23 Facts About Jake Friend
1. 2.
Jake Friend represented the Prime Minister's XIII, World All Stars and Queensland.
3.
Jake Friend made his first grade debut for the Sydney Roosters against Canterbury-Bankstown in round 16 of the 2008 NRL season.
4.
Jake Friend finished the 2010 NRL season as the Roosters starting hooker in the 2010 NRL Grand Final.
5.
Jake Friend played for the Roosters in their 2013 NRL Grand Final win over Manly-Warringah at ANZ Stadium.
6.
Jake Friend won the Ashton Collier medal for Man of the Match in the 2014 ANZAC Game between the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons.
7.
Jake Friend was part of the Eastern Suburbs sides which made preliminary final appearances in 2015 and 2017 but fell short of a grand final appearance on both occasions.
8.
In 2018, Jake Friend was part of the side which won their 4th minor premiership in 6 seasons.
9.
On 30 September 2018, Jake Friend co-captained Easts in the 2018 NRL Grand Final victory over Melbourne.
10.
At the start of the 2019 NRL season, Jake Friend scored a try for the Sydney Roosters in the club's round 1 defeat against arch rivals South Sydney at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
11.
Jake Friend returned to the Easts team for the ANZAC Day match against St George but suffered a torn right bicep and was ruled out for 10 weeks.
12.
Jake Friend returned to the Easts side in Round 17 against North Queensland at the Central Coast Stadium.
13.
Subsequent scans revealed that Jake Friend was ruled out for 8 weeks.
14.
Jake Friend made only 6 appearances for the Sydney Roosters in the 2019 NRL season as the club reached the 2019 NRL Grand Final against Canberra.
15.
Jake Friend was a late inclusion for the grand final team after coach Trent Robinson decided to replace Zane Tetevano with Jake Friend.
16.
Jake Friend played 19 games for the Sydney Roosters in the 2020 NRL season.
17.
On 8 April 2021, Jake Friend announced his immediate retirement from Rugby League due to repeated head knocks, having suffered from an estimated 20 concussions throughout his career.
18.
In 2022, Jake Friend became a coach for the Roosters pathway team alongside former teammate Mitchell Aubusson.
19.
On 24 February 2023, Jake Friend was inducted a life member of the Roosters club.
20.
Jake Friend made his international debut against Scotland off the interchange bench.
21.
In March 2009, Jake Friend was suspended by the NRL for 2 weeks for high range drink driving offences.
22.
On 13 December 2009, Jake Friend was arrested and charged by police following an altercation with a taxi driver.
23.
In May 2010, Jake Friend was re-instated in the Roosters team after counselling and rehabilitation.