Jai falls to friendly fire

Hard hit from mate has prop’s party plans on ice

JAI Whitbread’s Saturday night plans took a turn for the worse after he was knocked out cold by a close mate during Burleigh’s fourth straight Intrust Super Cup win.

The young Gold Coast Titans-contracted prop was taken from Pizzey Park in the second half of the 40-28 victory after being on the receiving end of a brutal shoulder charge.

The culprit was Souths Logan’s Tom Flegler, who was subsequently marched from the field.

Whitbread and Flegler had planned to go out partying after the game, having played together in Brisbane’s under-20 side last year.

Instead, Whitbread was consigned to a quiet night resting up, having had to grab a lift home with his parents after being deemed not able to drive himself.

“I was supposed to be going out with him after the game,” he told the Bulletin.

“The game, I remember bits of it but obviously when I got hit, it was pretty heavy and clocked me on the chin so I have had a couple of stitches. After that it was a bit blurry.

“I spoke to him after the game and it was all good, I told him that’s footy. He’ll probably cop it worse than me, he will probably get a few weeks I dare say but that’s just how it goes.

“He is a good mate of mine. He messaged me (on Saturday) night and said he was sorry and stuff like that, so no hard feelings.”

Whitbread reported feeling well yesterday but will have to go through concussion protocols to be a chance of playing against the Capras in Gladstone next weekend.

The South Tweed junior returned to the Gold Coast in the off-season, having signed a top 30 Titans deal, and is relishing the challenge of open-age footy with the unbeaten Bears.

“I’m really loving it,” he said. “There’s a lot of experience there so I’m just trying to find my way and learn everything that I can.”