Lillyman prepares to hang up boots
RICHMOND- BORN Origin hardman Jacob Lillyman was a player his Maroons teammates trusted implicitly, former Origin greats Petero Civoniceva and Brent Tate said on the day he announced his retirement.
Lillyman, 34, said yesterday he would stop playing at the end of the year because 2018 had been a “bit of a battle’’ for him.
The tireless forward, who was a former Kirwan State High School student, retires with 14 Origin matches to his credit and 265 firstgrade games for the Cowboys, Warriors and Knights.
“The mind and body reach a point where going another year isn’t an option and it’s been a bit of a battle this year,” Lillyman said.
“I’ve had an incredible career. I was fortunate to represent my state and make some incredible friendships along the way. I have no regrets.”
Lillyman played Origin in five years when Queensland won the series, not counting 2017, when he was dropped after the team’s Game One loss and didn’t play again for his state.
“He was a workhorse for us and he was one of our tough forwards who have laid the platform for victories,’’ Civoniceva said.
“You knew he’d get the job done and he did that for Queensland on so many occasions.
“They only know one way out there ( western Queensland) and that’s to be a tough customer who never took a backward step. He’s a quietly spoken humble guy off the field, always up for a laugh.’’
Lillyman finished on the winning team in nine of his 14 games for the Maroons.
“Not too many have played more – 14 Origin games is a hell of a number,’’ said also a clubmate the Warriors.
“Jakey is a low- fuss, lowmaintenance teammate but he’s someone you could look over at in the dressing- room and know he wouldn’t let the team down, you didn’t have to worry about him. It comes from his country background.
“As a teammate, Jakey is one of the biggest eaters I’ve ever seen, but he takes so long to eat. It’s like he is grazing.
“He has that real dry country humour and he’s never lost that.’’
Lillyman, who played most games for the Warriors of any of his club, including the Cowboys, is scheduled to play his last game on September 1 for the Knights against St George- Illawarra in Newcastle. Jacob Lillyman stats: Birthplace: Richmond, land. Birthdate: March 17, 1984. NRL games, to date: 265. Cowboys: 62 games, 2003, 2005- 08. Warriors: 188 games, 2009- 17. Knights: 15 games to date, 2018. Origin: 14 games, 2006- 08, 2011, 2014- 17. Tate, who was of Lillyman’s at Queens-