Arrow points to a big display

TITANS and Maroons workhorse Jai Arrow has a point to prove.

The 23-year-old has declared himself a “100 per cent” starter to back up from Queensland’s 18-14 win in the State of Origin series-opener on Wednesday for Gold Coast’s NRL derby against Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s a tough game, Origin, it’s definitely a different beast but I will go back to club land and I’ll be fit for Sunday,” he confirmed.

“Especially against my old club and at Suncorp on Sunday arvo, it makes it easier to play.

“A few of the boys have been joking that I’m non-existent when I back up from Origin so I’m going to have to shut them up and play some good footy.”

That lighthearted criticism is more than a bit harsh given the one occasion he did back up in 2018, he ran 134m and made 26 tackles just 48 hours after his Origin debut.

Gold Coast teammate Jarrod Wallace spoke during the week of the challenge Arrow faces to line up for the Titans.

“It’s definitely one of the hardest things in footy,” Wallace said of backing up.

“It’s such a high all week, 10 days in camp, the emotions are flying … the intensity is much higher and it does take a lot out of you, physically and emotionally, so we’ll have to see how he goes.”

Nonetheless, Arrow is determined to keep the momentum rolling after finishing strongly in Queensland’s come-from-behind victory.

The Keebra Park and Burleigh Bears product had an unusually quiet first half but bounced back to end up with tallies of 28 tackles and 100 running metres.

“I came in at halftime and was absolutely filthy at myself,” he said.

“Personally I think the first

A FEW OF THE BOYS HAVE BEEN JOKING THAT I’M NON-EXISTENT WHEN I BACK UP FROM ORIGIN SO I’M GOING TO HAVE TO SHUT THEM UP JAI ARROW

game and the occasion got the better of me, especially at Suncorp. I was very gassed there at the start.

“I was dirty on myself but I wasn’t like trying to bring myself down, I was just like: ‘All right, calm down. Your first stint is done, when you get on for your next stint, go and do what I have been doing all year’. “I thought my second stint was a lot better.”

Brisbane have named Maroons quintet Corey Oates, Payne Haas, Matt Gillett, David Fifita and Joe Ofahengaue for the 2pm kick-off.