Young gun draws on legends for inspiration, writes SAM FLANAGAN
NOT everyone is built for leadership. But not everyone is built like Jake Bourke.
A methodical game-manager, Jake has been a commander on the field for as long as he can remember.
He says he enjoys the challenge that leadership brings.
“I think that the boys can look up to someone like me when I’m on the field,” Jake said.
“Taking that leadership role is something that comes naturally to me and communication is a big part of that.
“Talking on the field is something that comes naturally again and it’s probably easier for me than others.”
Jake said he had taken the leadership qualities of two former State of Origin halves to build his own style around.
Unsurprisingly Johnathan Thurston was one, while the other is the ultimate competitor from south of the border.
“James Maloney’s game management when he was playing in the NRL was awesome,” he said.
“The way he plays his footy I really enjoy. He competes on every play and I try to do the same thing.”
The 17-year-old said his competitiveness was learned, but now that he’d found that aspect to his game it will only grow more intense from here on out.
“I look back now on all the hard work I’ve put in and I’m not going waste it. I just want to win e v e r y - thing.”
Picke d in the
E m e r - ging Maroons under-18 squad, Jake won’t be the first in his family to wear Maroon if he’s selected in the final 17.
His father Andrew Bourke played for Queensland in rugby union and Jake said his father’s influence and advice had been telling for his career.
“I never saw him play, but I would say he’s my footy inspiration.
“He’s the one I got all my talents off.
“He sort of fell away from it a bit. I think he just burnt out and stopped playing footy.
“He talks to me about that sort of stuff. He knows when I’m flat.
“He always tells me to work hard but he knows when I’m feeling flat and he’ll talk to me about it and help me through.
“Mum and Dad have sacrificed a lot and I’ll always thank them for that.”
The Centrals ASA product said knowing his old man had played at the highest level made his dream seem more realistic.
It’s a dream that could come to fruition if he’s selected for the under-18 Maroons against New South Wales this year.
“It would mean a lot. One of my main goals this year is to make that Origin squad. It would be a dream come true.”
Jake said his experience at the Maroons’ camp fuelled his ambition to represent Queensland even more.
T h e Ignatius
Park graduate, who played a central role in guiding the school to last year’s final, said he soaked in as much as he could over the three days.
“Getting trained by someone like Kevvie Walters was really cool. I was able to learn things I can bring back here.
“The speeches they gave us were great. It was really inspirational to see how emotional they got when they were talking about what it means to play for the Maroons.” With the carrot of a professional rugby league career getting closer, Jake’s sporting journey could have turned out differently.
“I played a year of soccer and then I went to rugby league when I was eight.
“I don’t think Mum let me play footy at the start, but then she let me after my year in soccer … I was happy to go to footy (laughs).”