{{Short description|Australian rugby league player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Jake Simpkin |fullname = Jake Simpkin |image = JAKE_SIMPKIN.jpg |imagesize = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|10|16}} |birth_place = Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |height = {{convert|183|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|91|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|HK}} |club1 = Wests Tigers |year1start = 2021 |year1end = 24 |appearances1 = 41 |tries1 = 4 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 16 |club2 = Manly Sea Eagles |year2start = 2024 |year2end = present |appearances2 = 40 |tries2 = 2 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 8 |teamA = {{nowrap|Prime Minister's XIII}} |yearAstart = 2022 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |retired = |source = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/jake-simpkin/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> |updated = 29 May 2026 }}
'''Jake Simpkin''' (born 16 October 2001) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|hk}} for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
==Background== Simpkin was born in Toowoomba, Queensland and played his junior rugby league for Souths Tigers in the Toowoomba Rugby League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/nrl-jake-simpkin-becomes-latest-toowoomba-junior-to-make-first-grade/news-story/20e6768634fe0ebeef6f72974d87f802|title=Toowoomba junior selected to make first grade debut|date=13 April 2021|website=The Chronicle}}</ref> He attended St Mary's College, Toowoomba before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/toowoombas-simpkin-moves-closer-to-nrl-dream/3750989/|title=Toowoomba's Simpkin moves closer to NRL dream|date=12 June 2019|website=The Morning Bulletin|access-date=18 April 2021|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418005830/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/toowoombas-simpkin-moves-closer-to-nrl-dream/3750989/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/nrl-rookies-jake-simpkin-wests-tigers/iod1b2mjrtbd12glop4qdndf9|title=Jake Simpkin is the breakout Tigers hooker looking to emulate Harry Grant's rise|date=15 April 2021|website=Sporting News}}</ref> In 2018, while playing for St Mary's, he was named Player of the Carnival at the 2018 Confraternity Carnival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/confraternity-carnival-what-you-need-to-know/3764407/|title=Confraternity Carnival: What you need to know|date=27 June 2019|website=The Daily Mercury}}</ref>
==Playing career== ===Early career=== In 2017, Simpkin represented Queensland under-16 in their 22–16 loss to New South Wales under-16.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://18thman.com/representative/under-16s-origin/2017-2/|title=Under-16 Origin 2017|website=18th Man}}</ref> In 2018, he played for the Western Mustangs in the Mal Meninga Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/mustangs-produce-a-miracle-comeback/3388700/|title=Mustangs produce miracle comeback|date=16 April 2018|website=Northern Star|access-date=18 April 2021|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418011118/https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/mustangs-produce-a-miracle-comeback/3388700/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2019, Simpkin joined the Wynnum Manly Seagulls playing for their Mal Meninga Cup and Hastings Deering Colts sides.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2019/10/03/auswide-bank-mal-meninga-cup-player-of-the-year-full-tally/|title=Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup player of the year: full tally|date=3 October 2019|website=QRL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2021/02/17/simpkin-thriving-in-top-squad-after-development-year/|title=Simpkin thriving in top squad after Development year|date=17 February 2021|website=Wests Tigers}}</ref> In June 2019, he represented Queensland under-18, scoring a try in their win over New South Wales under-18.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://18thman.com/representative/under-18s-origin/2019-2/|title=Under-18 Origin 2019|website=18th Man}}</ref> On 21 August 2019, Simpkin signed with the Wests Tigers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2019/08/21/wests-tigers-sign-young-queensland-duo/|title=Wests Tigers sign young Queensland duo|date=21 August 2019|website=Wests Tigers}}</ref>
===2021=== Simpkin began the 2021 season playing for Western Suburbs in the New South Wales Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2021/03/21/magpies-fall-to-bears-in-wet-and-gritty-clash/|title=Magpies fall to Bears in wet and gritty clash|date=21 March 2021|website=Wests Tigers}}</ref> In Round 6, he made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers, starting at {{rlp|hk}} in their 18-14 loss to South Sydney.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/04/13/nrl-round-6-squad-announcements/ |title=Round 6 NRL team lists |publisher=NRL.com |date=13 April 2021}}</ref>
===2022=== Simpkin played a total of nine games for the Wests Tigers in the 2022 NRL season as the club claimed the Wooden Spoon for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-04/nrl-knights-sharks-tigers-raiders/101402294/|title=Canberra Raiders hand out 56-10 NRL drubbing to Wests Tigers as Cronulla beats Newcastle Knights 38-16|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref>
===2023=== Simpkin played a total of 19 games for the Wests Tigers in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished with the wooden spoon for a second straight year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-wests-tigers-season-in-review-tigers-brutal-review-tim-sheens-benji-marshall-coach-justin-pascoe-wooden-spoon/news-story/d1ae7fb41d93ea7dc29173a824cac5a1/|title=‘Circus act’ that summed up year from hell... and big call left for Benji: Wests Tigers Brutal Review|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref>
=== 2024 === Simpkin joined the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles mid-season until the end of the 2026 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-03 |title=2024 NRL Signings Tracker: Sea Eagles land Simpkin |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/01/01/2024-nrl-signings-tracker-latest-signings-news-contracts-and-details/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=National Rugby League |language=en}}</ref> Simpkin played six games for Manly in the 2024 NRL season as they finished 7th on the table and qualified for the finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-the-mole-season-review-manly-sea-eagles-luke-brooks-daly-cherry-evans-exclusive-analysis-20240922-p5kclo.html/|title=The Mole's season review: Luke Brooks 'revels' at Manly Sea Eagles but 30 seconds of horror luck ends season|website=www.nine.com.au}}</ref>
===2025=== Simpkin played 22 matches for Manly in the 2025 NRL season as the club finished 10th on the table.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2025-the-mole-manly-sea-eagles-season-review-daly-cherry-evans-haumole-olakauatu-jake-tom-trbojevic-20250909-p5mtsz.html/|title=The Mole's season review: 'Biggest disappointment' in Manly year rocked by 'shock declaration'|website=www.nine.com.au}}</ref> On 26 November, the Sea Eagles announced that Simpkin had re-signed with the club until 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-26 |title=New deal for Simpkin at Manly |url=https://www.seaeagles.com.au/news/2025/11/26/new-deal-for-simpkin-at-manly/ |access-date=2025-11-26 |website=Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |language=en}}</ref>
== Statistics == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |- |2021 | rowspan="3" |{{leagueicon|Wests Tigers|16}} Wests Tigers |9 |2 |8 |- |2022 |10 | | |- |2023 |19 |2 |8 |- | rowspan="2" |2024 |{{leagueicon|Wests Tigers|16}} Wests Tigers |5 | | |- |{{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |6 | | |- |2025 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |22 |2 |8 |- |2026 |3 | | |- | |Totals |74 |6 |24 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/wests-tigers/jake-simpkin/ Wests Tigers profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416123118/https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/wests-tigers/jake-simpkin/ |date=16 April 2021 }}
{{Manly Sea Eagles squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpkin, Jake}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Prime Minister's XIII players Category:Rugby league hookers Category:Rugby league players from Toowoomba Category:Wests Tigers players Category:Manly Warringah Sea Eagles players Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen Category:People educated at St Mary's College, Toowoomba Category:Western Suburbs Magpies NSW Cup players