Vodafone Warriors prop Jacob Lillyman is right in the Origin frame after being called into the Queensland squad as 18th man for Wednesday nights second match of the 2013 State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Photo: Photosport.
Now in his fifth season with the Vodafone Warriors, the 29-year-old Lillyman has played for the Maroons six times, first when he was with North Queensland before being selected out of the Vodafone Warriors for Queenslands series-winning campaign in 2011.
Not called on last year and also overlooked initially this season, Lillyman was called up on Sunday after original 18th man Martin Kennedy was injured playing for the Sydney Roosters against Canterbury-Bankstown on Friday night.
While the Queensland selectors didnt agree, Lillymans previous Origin experience and form suggested he might well have been picked in the playing side for this weeks match.
In the Vodafone Warriors run of four straight wins he has stamped himself as one of the competitions form front rowers.
In the 28-12 win against Newcastle he carried the ball 14 times for 126 metres and made 19 tackles (one missed tackle) before marking his 150th NRL appearance in the 56-18 win over Brisbane with a game-high 16 runs while his 159 metres gained was bettered by only Manu Vatuvei. He also came up with four tackle breaks, a line break and 15 tackles (no misses).
He was again outstanding in the 18-16 victory over Manly, coming off the bench to produce 16 runs, 154 metres and 19 tackles. He was used for only 31 minutes in the 23-12 success against the Roosters, making 89 metres from nine runs and coming up with 19 tackles while he also had no errors for the fourth straight match.
Overall this season Lillyman is averaging almost 41 minutes a game, close to 11 runs, a shade below 100 metres and 23 tackles.
Now in his fifth season with the Vodafone Warriors, the 29-year-old Lillyman has played for the Maroons six times, first when he was with North Queensland before being selected out of the Vodafone Warriors for Queenslands series-winning campaign in 2011.
Not called on last year and also overlooked initially this season, Lillyman was called up on Sunday after original 18th man Martin Kennedy was injured playing for the Sydney Roosters against Canterbury-Bankstown on Friday night.
While the Queensland selectors didnt agree, Lillymans previous Origin experience and form suggested he might well have been picked in the playing side for this weeks match.
In the Vodafone Warriors run of four straight wins he has stamped himself as one of the competitions form front rowers.
In the 28-12 win against Newcastle he carried the ball 14 times for 126 metres and made 19 tackles (one missed tackle) before marking his 150th NRL appearance in the 56-18 win over Brisbane with a game-high 16 runs while his 159 metres gained was bettered by only Manu Vatuvei. He also came up with four tackle breaks, a line break and 15 tackles (no misses).
He was again outstanding in the 18-16 victory over Manly, coming off the bench to produce 16 runs, 154 metres and 19 tackles. He was used for only 31 minutes in the 23-12 success against the Roosters, making 89 metres from nine runs and coming up with 19 tackles while he also had no errors for the fourth straight match.
Overall this season Lillyman is averaging almost 41 minutes a game, close to 11 runs, a shade below 100 metres and 23 tackles.
