Littlejohn the ideal replacement at the Tigers

Embed from Getty Images

Wests Tigers fans, take heart.

The departure of Mitch Moses has given the unheralded Jack Littlejohn a chance he probably didn't think would come his way. The 25 year old Wagga Wagga junior joined the joint venture Tigers from Manly at the beginning of last year and faced tough competition with Moses and Brooks as the incumbent halves.  

Versatility is Littlejohn's marker.  In 2012 he played in Newtown's grand final winning team, after which he was enticed to switch codes and play Rugby Union for Randwick. Halfway through 2013, he went back to League via the Bulldogs, then Manly took him on with a two year contract, but he played just five NRL matches across 2014 and 2015.

Joining the Tigers in 2016, he played just three NRL matches (all as replacement for Luke Brooks), but then-coach Jason Taylor must have respected his ability as he found a way to include him in his starting 17 from Round 1 this year.

Littlejohn has played the role of utility replacement off the bench this season, coming on as hooker in Rounds 1 to 3, averaging 43 minutes in the dummy half role. He also played the full 80 minutes at halfback in Rounds 5 to 7, again in place of the injured Brooks.

Back at Intrust Super Premiership level, he has been five-eighth on occasion for the Wests Tigers who are struggling with just 3 wins from 10 matches and while blame can be spread widely, Littlejohn has been a strong contributor in each of his three matches, especially with his strong kicking game.

Moses departure gives Littlejohn thirteen more opportunities to demonstrate why he should be a starting half or five-eighth in 2018.  At which club, is anyone's guess.