True Blue Luke Lewis is enjoying the quality of Jake Arthur’s game at halfback for Parramatta in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, but sees his future at lock.
Running his eye over the Round Six match-ups over the Easter long weekend, Lewis was drawn to the Western Suburbs Magpies up against the Eels at Accor Stadium on Monday 10 April.
Lewis is eagerly awaiting Arthur against Brandon Wakeham, who has come back to NSW Cup after three NRL games with the Wests Tigers.
“There is a really good match-up this weekend with these two No.7s – Jake Arthur against Brandon Wakeham,” Lewis told The Short Side on nswrl.com.au.
“Brandon Wakeham – I’m liking his control and his leadership he’s been trying to do at the Tigers. I think he’ll step up and have a big game this weekend,” he said.
“And I really like what Jakob Arthur can do.
“He’s got some really good footwork, he’s strong, he’s tough, he goes looking for the ball, always wants to get heavily involved,” he said.
“I do believe Jakob Arthur’s body shape though, will turn him into a 13,” said Lewis, who was named both Dally M Lock of the Year and the IRL (International Rugby League) Lock of the Year in 2010.
Lewis also won his second NRL premiership playing lock for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2016 and played in the back row 14 times for NSW, and 16 times for Australia.
“Jake’s pretty tall, he’s a big boy already. But as he puts some more size on, I think he’ll be a really nice ball-playing lock,” Lewis said.
“So I think for this weekend it will be a battle of the No.7s.”
It is also a battle of those who can earn the most line-break assists.
Arthur leads The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup stats with seven from five games, although Wakeham has five from just two matches.
Arthur has the most line engagements (101) in NSW Cup so far, as well as leading try assists with eight.
Wakeham’s goal-kicking was central in the opening Magpies wins against the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights, where he landed six and five goals respectively.
