Originally Posted by
mdrew
Jed Bignell. The young five eight is a recent Titans signing and had a solid match for a Titans U15 Invitational side at Nerang yesterday when they defeated a Western Mustangs selection six tries to three, with Jed Bignell scoring a first quarter try under the posts as a result of a good right foot step or two.
For the Titans on Sunday, Jed Bignell lined up on the right side of the field and played the first and last quarters of the victory on a very hot day. As strange as it to say, Jed Bignell did not necessarily stand out on Sunday for the Titans but it was clear from the touches that he had, including his first quarter try he is a talented player, he just oozes class.
Jed Bignell hails from Miles in outback Queensland and has had a storied junior representative rugby league career dating all the way back to 2015 when he was selected as part of the Queensland U12 side for the National Championships. Jed Bignell has represented the Central Crows at the U13 and U14 level the last two seasons being selected at five eight and in 2017 was named U14 Player of the Carnival at the Outback Challenge.
Jed Bignell is a super quick player with an effortless running style who seems to glide over field with the ability to stand up his direct opposite and then beat him with pace or a step on the inside or outside. When the ball is passed to him early, Jed Bignell straightens the attack up well, meaning he does not run himself or his support out of room on the outside.
Jed Bignell is a smart player and will take what the defence gives him, when the defence is sliding he will cut inside and when the defence is playing an up and up style he has the speed and footwork to get on the outside of his direct opponent. He also has very good hands and can use his speed off the mark to look to create something for either himself or his outside supports at five eight.
Jed Bignell is quite an elusive runner of the ball and some good foot work in confined space. He will take on the line regularly and has a very good step off both feet but his left foot step seems to be the preferred step based on the games that I have seen at least. Jed Bignell is always around the ball and thus is always available to back up a break by a forward or when they get their hands free.
Defensively Jed Bignell does not necessarily stand out, which is a good thing to the extent that he is an effective defender and does not jumper grab but does use his shoulder when committing to the tackle.
Purely from a skill and physical attribute perspective he seems more suited to a sliding defensive methodology rather than an up and in style. His lateral movement also enables him to be an effective defender when defending at five eight against opposing halves who try to exploit the edges of the ruck with footwork.
Jed Bignell will play the season at the U15 level and should make a number of representative sides this year including the Central Crows amongst others.
Jed Bignell has primarily played five eight over the course of the last couple of seasons, although he has also spent time in the centres. With his speed off the mark, immaculate step and above average passing game especially to the right side of the field, I would be very interested to see how Jed Bignell would go at fullback, a position I am unsure whether he has played before.
From a player comparison perspective, a player along the lines of Penrith Panther Matt Moylan is an appropriate comparison as a skilful player who has all of the skills and temperament to be able to turn a game on its head with scintillating football and make difficult tasks look easy. He just seems to have all the time in the world to make a decision when he has the ball in his hands.