Jake Trueman
{{Short description|English professional rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| name = Jake Trueman
| fullname = Jacob Trueman
| image = Jake Trueman.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|2|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
| height = {{convert|6|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|90|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}{{Cite web |title=Jake Trueman Biography |url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/player.php?playerid=1341 |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=Castleford Tigers}}
| position = {{Rlp|SO|SH|FB}}
| club1 = {{nowrap|Bradford Bulls}}
| year1start = 2016
| year1end =
| appearances1 = 1
| tries1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| fieldgoals1 = 0
| points1 = 0
| club2 = {{nowrap|Castleford Tigers}}
| year2start = 2017
| year2end = 22
| appearances2 = 103
| tries2 = 32
| goals2 = 0
| fieldgoals2 = 1
| points2 = 129
| club3 = {{nowrap|Hull FC}}
| year3start = 2023
| year3end = 24
| appearances3 = 26
| tries3 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| fieldgoals3 = 0
| points3 = 20
| club4 = {{nowrap|Wakefield Trinity}}
| year4start = 2025
| year4end = present
| appearances4 = 2
| tries4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| fieldgoals4 = 0
| points4 = 0
| retired = no
| source = {{Rugby league records |id=5805 |title=Jake Trueman |access-date=24 September 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/jacob-trueman/summary.html |title=Jacob Trueman - Playing Career |website=Rugby League Project |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219111202/https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/jacob-trueman/summary.html |archive-date=19 December 2019 |url-status=live}}
| updated = 29 September 2024
}}
Jacob Trueman (born 16 February 1999) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|so}} or {{rlp|sh}} for Wakefield Trinity in the Super League.
He has previously played for the Castleford Tigers and Hull FC in the Super League, and for the Bradford Bulls in the Championship. He has represented England at international level.
Background
Trueman was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.{{cite web |title=Jake Trueman wins prestigious accolade |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/16970209.jake-trueman-wins-prestigious-accolade/ |website=Telegraph and Argus |access-date=24 September 2023 |date=9 October 2018}} He began playing rugby league for local amateur side, West Bowling.{{cite web |title=West Bowling hero Trueman shows his worth at Super League level |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/16245081.west-bowling-hero-trueman-shows-worth-super-league-level/ |website=Telegraph & Argus |access-date=24 September 2023 |date=24 May 2018}}
Club career
=Bradford Bulls=
He is a product of the Bradford Bulls Academy and signed his first professional contract in January 2016 with them.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/13846479.ethan-ryan-and-joe-lumb-join-full-time-ranks-at-bradford-bulls/|title=Ethan Ryan and Joe Lumb join full-time ranks at Bradford Bulls|date=14 October 2015|work=Telegraph & Argus|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116054313/https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/13846479.ethan-ryan-and-joe-lumb-join-full-time-ranks-at-bradford-bulls/|archive-date=16 January 2020}} He made his debut in May 2016 against the Swinton Lions.{{cite web |title=Trueman set sights on more first-team action after senior Bradford Bulls bow |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/14497107.trueman-set-sights-on-more-first-team-action-after-senior-bradford-bulls-bow/ |website=Telegraph & Argus |access-date=24 September 2023 |date=17 May 2016}}
=Castleford Tigers=
In January 2017, Trueman was signed by the Castleford Tigers, joining the club on a two-year deal.{{Cite news|date=2017-01-25|title=Jake Trueman: Castleford Tigers sign teenage Bradford Bulls half-back|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/38745931|access-date=2020-06-05}}{{cite web|url=https://www.totalrl.com/castleford-sign-former-bradford-youngster-jacob-trueman/|title=Castleford sign former Bradford youngster Jacob Trueman|last=Bower|first=Aaron|date=25 January 2017|website=Total Rugby League|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829151545/https://www.totalrl.com/castleford-sign-former-bradford-youngster-jacob-trueman/|archive-date=29 August 2018}} He made his Super League début on 4 June 2017 against St Helens.{{cite news|date=2017-06-04|title=Super League: Castleford Tigers 16-12 St Helens|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/40096469|url-status=live|accessdate=4 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103061946/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/40096469|archive-date=3 January 2019}} He scored a hat-trick in his second Castleford appearance against Wigan Warriors on 17 September.{{Cite news|date=2017-09-17|title=Super 8s: Wigan Warriors 20-38 Castleford Tigers|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41243831|url-status=live|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813152156/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/41243831|archive-date=13 August 2018}} At the end of the season, Trueman was named as the Tigers Academy Players' Player of the Year.{{Cite web|date=2017-09-17|title=2017 Winners|url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=5649|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers}} In December 2017, Trueman signed a new three-year contract with Castleford, with head coach Daryl Powell labelling him "the most promising half-back in the English game".{{Cite news|date=2017-12-08|title=Jake Trueman: Castleford Tigers half-back signs three-year contract|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/42286521|access-date=2020-06-05}}
Trueman was assigned squad number 21 for 2018.{{Cite web|date=2018-01-23|title=2018 Squad Numbers|url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=5773|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers}} He was utilised in the fullback position for a period, although he made the majority of his appearances at halfback. He performed consistently well throughout the season, cementing his place in the first team by appearing in all but 4 of Castleford's games. Trueman's contributions were reflected in the end-of-season awards, as he was named as Castleford's Young Player of the Year and 2nd place Player of the Year.{{Cite web|date=2018-10-05|title=2018 Awards Winners|url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=6122|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers}} He also went on to win the Super League Young Player Of The Year 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/castleford-tigers/castleford-tigers-jake-trueman-lifts-league-s-young-player-of-year-award-as-st-helens-ben-barba-captures-man-of-steel-1-9387123|title=Castleford Tigers' Jake Trueman lifts league's Young Player of Year Award as St Helens' Ben Barba captures Man of Steel|last=Craven|first=Dave|date=8 October 2018|work=The Yorkshire Post|access-date=15 June 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116055925/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/castleford-tigers/castleford-tigers-jake-trueman-lifts-league-s-young-player-of-year-award-as-st-helens-ben-barba-captures-man-of-steel-1-9387123|archive-date=16 January 2020}}{{Cite news|date=2018-10-08|title=Ben Barba: St Helens full-back wins 2018 Steve Prescott Man of Steel award|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/45791751|access-date=2020-06-05}} In November, he signed a new four-year contract with the Tigers until the end of 2022.{{Cite news|date=2018-11-02|title=Jake Trueman: Castleford Tigers half-back signs new four-year deal|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/46079353|access-date=2020-06-05}}
For the 2019 season, Trueman was given squad number 6, recognising his place in Castleford's first team.{{Cite web|date=2019-01-04|title=2019 Squad Numbers Confirmed|url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=6202|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers}} Injuries to teammates meant that he wasn't able to form a consistent partnership with any other halfback, starting alongside Jordan Rankin, Paul McShane, Peter Mata'utia, Cory Aston and Jamie Ellis at different points throughout the season. He scored his second hat-trick for Castleford against Hull F.C. on 5 September, to help the Tigers reach the play-offs.{{Cite news|date=2019-09-05|title=Super League: Castleford Tigers beat Hull FC 44-12 to go fifth in table|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/49565077|access-date=2020-06-05}} He made 31 appearances, missing only 1 game for the Tigers, and scored 8 tries. He finished as a runner-up for Castleford's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards and was once again nominated for Super League Young Player of the Year.{{Cite web|date=2019-09-15|title=Watts at the treble on awards night|url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=6587|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers}}{{Cite web|date=2019-09-09|title=Trueman nominated for Young Player of the Year|url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=6573|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers}}
Trueman was named Man of the Match for his performance against the Toronto Wolfpack in the opening round of the 2020 season.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-03|title=Trueman true star of Super League opener|url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=6777|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers}} His developing halfback combination with new Tigers signing Danny Richardson was widely lauded as an exciting and potentially long-term partnership for both club and country.{{Cite web|last=Gordon|first=James|date=2020-02-13|title=Jake Trueman and Danny Richardson – the present and future for Castleford and England?|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/jake-trueman-and-danny-richardson-the-present-and-future-for-castleford-and-england/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Love Rugby League}}{{Cite web|last=Darbyshire|first=Drew|date=2020-04-19|title=Jake Trueman and Danny Richardson combination could be special, says Michael Shenton|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/jake-trueman-and-danny-richardson-combination-could-be-special-says-michael-shenton/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Love Rugby League}} Castleford captain Michael Shenton shared this view ("It's exciting. A lot of teams have gone for Australian halves but we've gone for young British halves with plenty of talent.") and spoke very highly of Trueman: "He is a quiet person off the field but on the field we are trying to make him grow because he's unequalled in talent for our team. He's our best player."
On 17 July 2021, he played for Castleford in their 2021 Challenge Cup Final loss against St. Helens.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/57828390/|title=Challenge Cup: St Helens beat Castleford 26-12 for first Wembley victory since 2008|work=BBC Sport }}
= Hull FC =
On 5 July 2022, it was announced that Trueman would join Hull FC on a three-year deal from the 2023 season.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-05 |title=Jake Trueman: Hull FC sign half-back on three-year deal |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12646487/jake-trueman-hull-fc-sign-half-back-on-three-year-deal |access-date=2022-07-05 |website=Sky Sports}}
Trueman made his club debut for Hull F.C. in round 11 of the 2023 Super League season against Wigan. Trueman was sent to the sin bin during the second half of the game for a professional foul.{{cite web|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-fc-nail-rare-traits-8414168/|title=Hull FC nail rare traits in victory as Jake Trueman shows dark arts on debut|website=www.hulldailymail.co.uk}}
Trueman played 13 games for Hull F.C. for in the Super League XXVIII season as the club finished 10th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-fc-high-lows-mid-8799429/|title=Hull FC highs and lows as mid-season resurgence not enough to prevent drop-off|website=www.hulldailymail.co.uk|access-date=4 October 2023|archive-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004073738/https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-fc-high-lows-mid-8799429|url-status=dead}}
=Wakefield Trinity=
On 27 August 2024, it was reported that he had signed for Wakefield Trinity on a three-year deal.{{cite web|website=Wakefield Trinity|date=27 Aug 2024|accessdate=29 Sep 2024|title=Trueman Joins Wakefield Trinity!|url=https://wakefieldtrinity.com/trueman-joins-wakefield-trinity/}}
International career
In July 2018, he was selected in the England Knights Performance squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ten-new-additions-in-england-knights-squad/|title=Ten new additions in England Knights squad|last=Darbyshire|first=Drew|date=24 July 2018|website=Love Rugby League|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200116055807/https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ten-new-additions-in-england-knights-squad/|archive-date=16 January 2020|accessdate=31 October 2019}}
He was selected in England 9s squad for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/sam-tomkins-eager-lift-inaugural-20595184|title=Sam Tomkins eager to lift inaugural World 9s title with England Down Under|last=Walker|first=Gareth|date=16 October 2019|work=Daily Mirror|accessdate=29 October 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029125436/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/sam-tomkins-eager-lift-inaugural-20595184|archive-date=29 October 2019}}
He was selected in squad for the 2019 Great Britain Lions tour of the Southern Hemisphere.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-league/2019/10/14/zak-hardaker-shock-inclusion-24-man-great-britain-squad-tour/|title=Zak Hardaker shock inclusion in 24-man Great Britain squad for tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea|last=Heppenstall|first=Ross|date=14 October 2019|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=29 October 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116055043/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-league/2019/10/14/zak-hardaker-shock-inclusion-24-man-great-britain-squad-tour/|archive-date=16 January 2020}}
Club statistics
{{Table alignment}}
| class="wikitable defaultcenter"
|+ Appearances and points in all competitions by year | ||||
| Club | Season | Tier
!style="width:2em;" |{{Tooltip|App|Appearances}} !style="width:2em;" |{{Tooltip|T|Tries}} !style="width:2em;" |{{Tooltip|G|Goals}} !style="width:2em;" |{{Tooltip|DG|Drop goals}} !style="width:2em;" |{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}} | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Bradford|16}} Bradford Bulls
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| rowspan="7" style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Castleford Tigers|16}} Castleford Tigers
| 2017 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2018
| 28 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| 2019
| 31 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 33 |
| 2020
| 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2021
| 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 2022
| 19 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| colspan="2"| Total
! 103 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 129 |
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Hull|16}} Hull FC
| 2023 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2024
| 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| colspan="2"| Total
! 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| colspan="3"| Career total
! 130 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 149 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.castlefordtigers.com/player.php?id=1048 Castleford Tigers profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160220094307/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/on-the-pitch/squads Bradford Bulls profile]
- [https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/258/jacob-trueman SL profile]
{{Wakefield Trinity squad}}
{{England 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s squad}}
{{Great Britain 2019 Lions squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trueman, Jacob}}
Category:Bradford Bulls players
Category:Castleford Tigers players
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Rugby league halfbacks