STORY: Dallas Reeves
MOE Jacobs did it all in rugby union and in the twilight of his career the South African looms as a key factor in Coonamble’s Castlereagh League premiership tilt.
The Bears travel to Gilgandra to meet the Panthers in Saturday’s grand final at McGrane Oval and Jacobs can’t wait for his shot at a rugby league premiership.
Jacobs, a No. 8 or blindside flanker in the 15-man code, has made a successful switch to prop for Coonamble in league.
A hard-running forward who loves the physicality of both rugby codes, he has quickly become an important player for the Bears.
Coonamble is a town where both rugby codes have managed to maintain a harmonious relationship, particularly within the younger generation.
That pleasant feeling between the league and union clubs has benefitted both parties.
Coonamble Bears secretary Joe Bellgardt said he had been trying to get Jacobs to play league for a decade.
Jacobs said close friends Adam Cohen and Joe Goldsmith were instrumental in getting him across to league.
The trio all played together during the Coonamble Rams’ dream run in Western Plains Rugby Union between 2009-2013 when they won five first grade premierships.
Now they are together in the 13-man code and Jacobs couldn’t be happier to join his good mates but also Bears players that have over the years been more than happy to play second grade union for Coonamble on a bye weekend in Castlereagh League.
“The Bears have certainly helped the Rams over the years … we couldn’t really ever return the favour with two teams … so it’s nice to be playing league,” he said.
“We all get along really well and have a few beers together (league and union players in Coonamble).
Jacobs grew up in union-mad South Africa at Standerton, around 160km south-east of Johannesburg in the Highveld region.
It was logical he would take up the 15-man code and progressed rapidly, earning a spot with the Lions’ (then known as the Cats) Super Rugby Franchise.
He was training to make his Currie Cup debut with the Lions before a back injury the week before his expected start in South Africa’s premier domestic rugby union competition had seemingly ended his top-line career.
It was 2004 and Jacobs decided to back pack.
He lobbed in Australia on a VISA and landed in Coonamble where his farming background came in handy.
Jacobs joined the Rams around 2005 and earned himself a NSW Country Cockatoos jumper.
His game developed to the point the ACT Brumbies got interested and he headed to Canberra for the 2008 season.
Jacobs spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons in the nation’s capital and played two reserve grade games for the Brumbies before another injury, this time a knee, ended his stint in the big time.
Jacobs decided to leave Canberra Royals to return to Coonamble and settle down with a child on the way, becoming an inspirational leader in the Rams ‘golden WPRU run.
At 36, he decided to give league a go and hasn’t looked back.
What he has enjoyed the most is the chance to go one-on-one with his direct opponent more often in league. Getting a break in scrums is also something he has relished.
Jacobs admitted the balancing act on how long to hold down a tackled player without giving away a penalty or conversely jumping off too quick and letting the opposition get a quick play-the-ball has been challenging.
“It’s been great … obviously with my background I’ve got a soft spot for rugby (union) but I’ve found league very enjoyable, a great game to play,” Jacobs said.
“It’s a very direct game. No twisting and turning at the breakdown has been good for my old joints.
“The extra space is also nice. You can call a bloke out and have that direct contest (in league). It’s been a real privilege to play with these blokes.”
Jacobs said he would evaluate his future after the grand final.
He has a plumbing business in Coonamble but if time permits he would like to have a run around again for the Bears or Rams next year.
Despite three 16-point losses against the currently undefeated Gilgandra this season, Jacobs said the Bears are confident of winning their first title since 2009 should they start well.
“We’ve given away big leads early but they’ve never ran away with it,” he said.
“If we can bridge that gap early we are in with a very good chance.”