Joy, excitement ... and massive pride
Craig Wallace reveals whirl of emotions as son Jarrod did his family and state proud
CRAIG Wallace experienced plenty of highs during his footy career – premiership glory, representative selection, a myriad of Mad Mondays.
Now, thanks to a son who has soared to even greater heights, he and his footyloving family have tasted something most Queenslanders can only dream of – the buzz of a State of Origin series-winning dressing room.
“Each player was allowed to invite about four or six people in and you do feel part of the Maroon family,” said the father of Jarrod Wallace, the Gold Coast Titan who played a key role in Queensland’s epic 22-6 defeat of NSW on Wednesday night.
“That’s what they are – a family – and that’s what footy’s all about. It’s all about family and the friends you make become friends forever.”
Wallace Jr made a lot of new friends on Wednesday, even if he will never get to meet most of them given they were cheering him on from Coolangatta to the Cape.
Having used his brute force to lay a platform for a historic Queensland win, the 25-yearold capped his night with the try that sealed victory.
“I just can’t explain (how that moment felt),” said Craig, who was at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium with more than a dozen family and friends, in-
cluding Jarrod’s mother Sharon, brothers Logan and Cooper, and grandfather Wayne.
“To see him go over in an Origin game was huge. As you know, front-rowers don’t score often and to get over the white line and seal the game was an amazing feeling.
“It topped off the night brilliantly.”
Except for the fact there was so much more to come, starting with his granddaughters joining Daddy on his lap of honour.
“They love going to the footy but it’s not so much about watching the game,” Craig said of toddlers Lara and Peyton.
“It’s all about getting on the field afterwards. Jarrod loves it too. He loves having them on the field with him.”
Then it was off to a dressing room bursting at the seams with not only people but emotion.
“We got to listen to (coach) Kevvie (Walters) have a bit of a yarn and then they let little Alfie (Langer) loose for the team song,” he said.
“Away he goes – throwing
things, kicking things, ripping the shirt off. He gets right into it.”
Finally, amid the backslapping, laughter and euphoria, a pair of loving parents got to share a moment with their little boy whose dream of growing up to be an Origin hero had finally come true.
“We’re just very proud,” said Craig, a Runaway Bay Seagulls legend who now coaches Parkwood.
“During the national anthem the team was standing right in front of us. It was a pretty powerful and emotional thing to see Jarrod looking directly at his family. You almost got a tear thinking of what’s he’s achieved.
“It hasn’t been handed to him. He’s had to work so hard for it … and I know he now wants to be part of that Maroons side for many, many years.”
TO SEE HIM GO OVER IN AN ORIGIN GAME WAS HUGE ... IT WAS AN AMAZING FEELING CRAIG WALLACE