In Allan Border’s second Test in 1979, he achieved his first 50 in Test cricket.
With Australia collapsing all around him he dug a trench and achieved his first Test half-century, scoring 60 not out and then in the second innings went close again with 45 not out. England couldn’t move him.
England won the Test by 93 runs but the type of player and future leader that Border would become had been revealed.
Sometimes when your team is struggling a 50 is worth a lot.
Jets captain Rhys Jacks is Ipswich’s Allan Border.
Rhys Jacks will play his 50th game for the Ipswich Jets this week against the Brisbane Tigers.
He made his debut for the Jets in April 2010 against the Burleigh Bears. As a young half for the Gold Coast Titans under 20s side Jacks was sent to Ipswich to learn his craft from tough men and played seven games for the Jets.
He will play his 50th game for the Jets as a hooker and leader in the middle.
Jacks has played 127 Hostplus Cup games across 13 years; he will be the 61st Jet to play 50 games for the club.
In that 50 games, turmoil and uncertainty has whirled around him at times but like Border; he has stood up against invaders while the Jets collapse around him.
Jacks has only won six of his 49 games for the Jets and had one draw. He didn’t have a victory for the Jets until his 13th game.
Match: Jets v Tigers
Round 15 -
home Team
Jets
15th Position
away Team
Tigers
4th Position
Venue: North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich
That is Jacks legacy at Ipswich - he’s stayed the course when lesser men would have fallen away.
“It makes it more special that my times at Ipswich haven’t been easy,” Jacks said.
“I consider myself a Jet, even though I have played at other clubs.
“That’s one of the messages we keep giving to guys that Ipswich players don’t give up.
“I’d love to still be playing when the Jets come out of this time and contributing to wins.
“I am really proud to play 50 games for Ipswich.”
At the other end of his career is Souths Logan's Brisbane Broncos-affiliated hooker Blake Mozer, who has played against Jacks twice in 2023.
Mozer has played 16 Hostplus Cup games and has come up against the best hookers in Cup like Burleigh Bears' Pat Politoni and Jacks.
He has watched Jacks and understands he is watching a craftsman.
“Jacks is where I want to be, he knows how to get to spots and those older hookers like Hope, Jacks, Politoni and Smoothy are my reference points,” Mozer said.
“Jacks has been great for Ipswich for a long time.
"He’s consistently their best and never seeming to play badly, just a consistent level and that’s what your hooker has to be.”
Jacks will be there again this week at dummy half digging that trench and keeping the Tiger invaders away in the middle of the field.
He has done it for 50 games for the Jets and that’s what you want from your captain and hooker; that’s what Jacks does consistently every week; with young hookers watching on and taking notes.
