Jake's journey of discovery from the Hunter to Hull and home again

Plenty of water has flowed under Townsville’s Victoria Bridge since Jake Clifford took his first tentative steps onto the NRL stage for the Cowboys late in the 2018 season.

Just 20 at the time, the Tully Tigers junior was paired in the halves with none other than the great Johnathan Thurston for the Round 19 clash against Ben Hunt’s Dragons.

The young playmaker didn’t get the result he was after but the chance to play alongside club legends like Jason Taumalolo, Gavin Cooper, Kyle Feldt and Thurston was a dream come true.

Come 2019 and Clifford joined forces with another Cowboys premiership hero Michael Morgan at the scrumbase before he and Scott Drinkwater ran the show in 2020.

With 42 games under his belt and in the final year of his contract in 2021, Clifford was released mid-season by the Cowboys to join Newcastle, helping the Knights to a top-eight finish.

By the end of 2022, Clifford was on the move again, this time bound for England and a stint with Hull FC alongside another former Knight in Tex Hoy.

With five tries and 54 goals across 26 matches, Clifford was proving a valuable acquisition for Tony Smith’s outfit, but gnawing away at the classy No.7 was a desire to return to the NRL, preferably at the club where it all started five years ago.

“This has always been home for me and it feels natural to be back in Cowboys colours,” Clifford told media on Thursday.

“I didn’t really feel like leaving here in the first place so to get the call over in England to come back, I was over the moon.

“I had a bit of growing up to do and a bit of learning to do and I built a lot of confidence in England that I am bringing back here.

"Maybe I was a bit too comfortable here from where I started and a bit of change was what I needed.

“This has always been home for me and I’m buzzing to be back, everyone has been very welcoming.

“When I left the club [in 2021] there was talk I could come back and it was up to me how hard I wanted to work to get back here.

“I’ve always had the fire in my belly to play NRL and now I just have to train hard and put my best foot forward."

With skipper Chad Townsend and Tom Dearden settled in the halves, Clifford knows he may have to bide his time, but the chance to reunite with coach Todd Payten and old mates Coen Hess and Drinkwater was too good to pass up.

"I've got a one-year contract and I'm ready to fight for a spot and hopefully re-sign to stay longer," Clifford said.

"I'm super happy for how Tommy has been going. He had a lot of pressure coming through at the Broncos and seeing how he has flourished here and how he is around this group of boys it's something I'm looking forward to being part of.

"Chad has such a calm head, he's a very smart footballer, and you feel confident around him. He backs you to do your job.

"I'm here like a sponge to soak it all up and to be around these boys again is what I'm most excited about.

"I kept in touch with a lot of the boys [while I was away] and I spoke to Toddy a bit, and I'm just glad to be back.

"I've quite a good connection with Toddy and I feel like he brings the best out in me so it was a no-brainer to come back and work with him.

"I'm super excited to work with [new assistant coach] James Maloney as well. I watched him a lot growing up and every club he went to ended up being a successful club."