Standing at an imposing two metres tall, Jake Clydsdale is literally and figuratively a giant prospect in the Canberra Raiders system, with the 21-year-old pushing hard for his NRL debut in the upcoming season.
A Family Connection with a Size Difference
While rugby league runs in the family, size certainly does not. Clydsdale is the half-brother of former Raiders hooker Adam Clydsdale, who played 15 games for the Green Machine across the 2016 and 2017 NRL seasons. The physical contrast between the two is stark. The older Clydsdale measured 178cm and 88kg during his playing days, while Jake is a 117kg man mountain who completely dwarfs his sibling.
This massive frame makes him the biggest Raider since fan favourite Dane Tilse, who at 200cm and 112kg played 201 games for the club between 2006 and 2015.
From the Farm to the Capital
The young prop hails from a farm in Rouchel, near Scone, and is now entering his fourth season within the Raiders' development pathway. His potential was recognised at a state level when he was one of six Canberra-contracted players to represent NSW in the under-19 State of Origin clash back in 2023, lining up alongside other promising talents like Ethan Strange and Ethan Sanders.
Clydsdale acknowledges that his incredible size is a major asset, but he knows it's useless without one key ingredient: fitness. His attitude on this front will be welcome news to notoriously demanding coach Ricky Stuart.
"The game, it's getting a lot quicker," Clydsdale observed. "I know 'Sticky' doesn't like lazy forwards, so that's a big work-on for me. I've got to get real fit so I can go both ends of the footy, not just attack or defence. Size will play a good part if I can get fit enough."
A Brother's Influence and a Debut Dream
It was his brother Adam who played a pivotal role in bringing Jake to the nation's capital. Despite their physical differences, they share a fierce competitive spirit, something the older Clydsdale cultivated while coaching his younger brother back in their hometown.
"He was a very big part of why I came down here," Jake said. "Adam, he was always a hard worker. I played with him when I was 17, back at Scone. He showed me what a really good leader was. We were flogging teams by 50 in some games and we get in at half-time and he'd rip us a new one. But that's just how he is as a competitor and I probably take a little bit out of that."
With just one year remaining on his current Raiders contract, the incentive to impress has never been greater. For the first time, he has been elevated to the club's top-30 squad after spending the 2025 season as a development player.
The departure of forwards Trey Mooney and Pasami Saulo to the Newcastle Knights has opened a clear pathway into the NRL squad. This creates a significant opportunity for Clydsdale to build on the 12 NSW Cup games he played in 2025, a season where he was still young enough to feature in the under-21 Jersey Flegg Cup.
"Yeah, it probably opens a little bit because last year I was sort of stuck behind them, and I was on the bench for Cup a fair bit," he admitted. "I didn't get many minutes because they're fitter and they're here for longer. It probably opens the door a lot more. I might get a starting spot in Cup. But obviously that doesn't mean anything. I've still got to work hard out on the training paddock to get that. I'm just a country kid trying to make it here."
