Jake Hawkins: Former Storm signing recalls his NRL days

The new Greater Northern Tigers coach was referring to Jake Hawkins.

The Tigers had assembled at Jake Woolaston Oval on Wednesday afternoon for a training run, with Hawkins - a former Storm, Sharks and Dragons signing - in a buoyant mood.

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The Farrer alumnus, who hails from Manilla, is back in the region to captain-coach Singleton.

Standing on a field he played on in 2013, when he was signed by the Bears for a partial season, the 30-year-old ventured down memory lane.

But, boy, doesn't he wish his present was still intrinsically linked to his past and he was still with an NRL club.

Signed by Melbourne straight out of high school, he spent three seasons at the storied club including two seasons in the Storm's NRL squad, where he trained alongside the likes of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis.

A storm video posted on their website in 2010, titled "Meet the Newbie", referred to him as the hooker understudy to Smith and Ryan Hinchcliffe.

"You wish it would last a lifetime," he said of playing for an NRL club. "It would be good if I was still playing."

He added: "I guess I'm pretty grateful to have had the opportunity, especially coming from Tamworth. A Farrer boy who played for Norths and Wests [in Tamworth] as well.

"I guess when you look at it like that, you're pretty lucky to get an opportunity - especially at Melbourne."

He said "there's not really any regrets", then added: "But it would be good if it lasted a bit longer."

Hawkins featured in the Storm's under-20 grand final defeat of Wests Tigers in 2009 - with his Storm tenure followed by stints at the Sharks and the Dragons.

He then won a premiership with Dapto in the Wollongong competition (2016), before captain-coaching the Port Macquarie Sharks to the Group 3 title (2018).

Last season was supposed to be his first in charge of Singleton, but COVID put paid to that.

At the Tigers, the mental health worker will reconnect with his former Farrer teammate Scott Blanch.

On Saturday in Newcastle, the Tigers will have their first hitout ahead of the Country Championships when they play Newcastle in a trial.

Tigers squad: Lincon Smith, Jake Hawkins, Ronin Hadden, Keiran Williams, Brady Benkovic, Ewin Bartholomew, Reece Jaeger, Harlee Millgate, Tariq Miles, Chris Hunt, Brett Jarrett, Daniel Hoogerwerf, Lochlan Preston, Mitchell Doring, Clay Frendin, Scott Blanch, Shaun Ferguson, Tex Larimari, Matt Gillham, Liam Hatch, Ryan Ingram, Jayden Roseberg.