SO CLOSE HE CAN ALMOST TOUCH IT
GOLD Coast Titans prop Jarrod Wallace is on the cusp of a dream – but a judiciary hearing tonight could rob him of a State of Origin debut. Wallace and three other Maroons rookies have been named in a Queensland side that must defeat NSW next week to keep the series alive. However a shoulder charge on the Warriors’ Blake Ayshford last weekend could rub Wallace out.
THE Queensland Rugby League will throw “all its resources” in hiring a top legal eagle to clear Titans prop Jarrod Wallace for the must-win clash with NSW in Origin II.
The Gold Coast forward was yesterday named to make his representative debut in Sydney on Wednesday week but he must beat the NRL judiciary tonight so he can play.
Wallace faces a two-game suspension after being slapped with a Grade I shoulder charge in the Titans’ loss to the New Zealand Warriors at Robina on Saturday.
If he pleaded guilty he would have received a one-match ban.
QRL officials last night were engaging the best legal help they could find to assist Wallace beat the charge.
“The Queensland Rugby League will put all its resources behind having Jarrod Wallace prove his innocence,” QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher said.
While the Titans will be a big loser if Wallace fails tonight, at least they will not have to bear the cost, with the QRL to fund the legal bid.
The QRL could have taken a cynical approach to Wallace’s plight by not naming him yesterday and allowing him to serve a one-match ban in the Titans match against South Sydney on Friday night. It then would have allowed them to bring in Wallace for an “injured” player at the weekend.
However, QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher refused to take that option.
“There’s a previous loophole in the rules that would enable the Queensland Rugby League to opt out of the Jarrod Wallace situation, where he could serve his term if we opted for that, but we will not be using that rule.”
Wallace’s Titans teammate, Chris McQueen said a better system was needed so minor infringements did not ruin lifelong dreams.
“If Jarrod doesn’t get the opportunity to play – I know he will at some point – but if for some reason it didn’t come around again, that’s something that will eat away at him for the rest of his life,” said McQueen, who watched former South Sydney clubmate Issac Luke miss a grand final through suspension.
“I think there are special occasions where minor things, maybe you can serve your penalty or suspension back at club level.
“Origin and grand finals are things that kids dream about from the day they learn what rugby league is.
“For someone to make that decision to take those dreams away, I think that is a harsh penalty.
McQueen was with Wallace when he learnt he had been charged and he said his mate was ”heartbroken”. “He was speechless. “We were at a barbecue and it ruined his day.
“As soon as he got that phone call, he wanted to leave. He wanted to go home and just be left alone.”
Wallace will tonight argue he could not avoid contact with Warriors centre Blake Ayshford in the clash at Robina on Saturday and braced himself after seeing a pass go over Ayshford’s head.
“I was coming in to make the tackle and he jumped and I saw the ball got past him, so I braced myself and pulled out of the tackle,” Wallace said after the match.
“I remember bracing and me stopping my run to pull out of the tackle. What more can I do?
“I was committed to tackling him because he was there.”