Extra emotion for Madden

For Jock Madden, this week’s clash against the Newcastle Knights carries a little extra emotion.

Born in the Hunter, Madden played all of his junior football for the Scone Thoroughbreds before progressing through the Knights’ pathways system.

The halfback always enjoys the challenge of coming up against his former teammates, and is confident that his side can achieve back-to-back wins for the second time this season.

“The coaches do a lot of video and provide us with a game plan and we’ve nailed that plan over the last couple of weeks, which has shown through the results”.

After representing his state and country as a youngster, Madden was poached by the joint-venture in 2019 and made his way south to learn from the likes of Luke Brooks, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah.

Now, he has the opportunity to develop under another legendary halfback in the form of current NRL Head Coach Brett Kimmorley.

“Noddy’s clear in his communication and he’s a very smart man, so he can really pick a game apart.”

He played 300-plus games and played at the highest level, so it’s been terrific to learn from him.”

Jock Madden

Under Kimmorley’s watchful eye, Madden had one of the finest games of his career on Saturday night.

He finished with two line break assists and was rewarded a try of his own off the back of a barnstorming run from Kelma Tuilagi.

The 22 year-old has now played in each of Wests Tigers’ four victories this season and has quickly formed a dangerous combination with five-eighth Adam Doueihi.

With his future still uncertain, Madden was quick to shut down any suggestions that he was ‘on trial’, stating that his attention remains fixed on the task ahead.

“It’s my manager’s role to sort out the off-field stuff.”

“I’m just taking my footy week-by-week and focusing on beating the Knights on Sunday."