Jackson Frei comes in from the cold for Vodafone Warriors

Welcome return for the Frei who came in from the cold

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Wed 27 Jul 2022, 07:17 PM

When it comes to lashings of resilience, perseverance and patience, Jackson Frei takes a lot of beating.

So it couldn’t be more appropriate that ‘Jacko’ should this week provide one of the most heart-warming tales of what has been another challenging Covid-impacted season for the Vodafone Warriors.

It has come about through interim head coach Stacey Jones including the tall Queenslander on the bench for Friday night’s Homecoming Series #2 clash against Melbourne at Mount Smart Stadium. That in itself tells little of Frei’s story.

For here is a player who’s not in the club’s top 30 players, existing instead on a modest opportunity contract with nothing set for next year.

Friday night’s contest against the Storm will be just his second NRL appearance, almost a year since his debut as Vodafone Warrior #265 against Canterbury Bankstown in Redcliffe last August.

Perhaps more fittingly it will give an ultimate club man the distinct thrill of his first NRL appearance at Mount Smart Stadium on a night when fullback Reece Walsh, winger Edward Kosi and second rower Eliesa Katoa will do likewise.

Frei’s previous Mount Smart experiences were with the club’s Canterbury Cup side in 2019 before the Covid pandemic threw everything upside down in 2020.

His first two seasons with the club after being signed from the Sydney Roosters were gruelling to say the least.

Recovery from a shoulder injury delayed his start with the Vodafone Warriors in 2019 before he became a regular in the Canterbury Cup side.

Heartache would follow in 2020 when his hopes were dashed by a season-ending ACL knee injury in the club’s NRL trial against the Storm in Palmerston North in February.

It meant 2021 was a case of starting all over again, Frei spending most of the season with feeder club the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup competition until he was handed his NRL debut against the Bulldogs on August 15.

He was chosen to start the match, playing the first 25 minutes before returning for the last two minutes of the 24-10 victory. He ran for 41 metres from five carries and made 14 tackles without a miss.

In 15 appearances for the Dolphins last year and another eight so far this season, Frei has scored seven tries, made 25 tackle breaks and averages 102 metres and 22 tackles a game.

On Friday night he’s back where he has been striving to be, playing in the NRL against the competition’s benchmark side of the modern era and doing it at Mount Smart.

Few players have deserved the opportunity more.

Round 20 - Round 20 - Friday 29 Jul

Full Time

Warriors

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Storm is number 2 Dean Ieremia
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Marcelo Montoya

Centre for Storm is number 3 Marion Seve
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi

Winger for Storm is number 5 Grant Anderson
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tohu Harris

Prop for Storm is number 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Euan Aitken

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Josh Curran

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz Tevaga

Lock for Storm is number 15 Tui Kamikamica

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Freddy Lussick

Interchange for Storm is number 13 Josh King
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty Afoa

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Eliesa Katoa

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Alec MacDonald
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jackson Frei

Interchange for Storm is number 21 Tom Eisenhuth