Up for the fight
WHEN Jarrod Wallace finds himself in the middle of the toughest fight of his rugby league career on Wednesday night, he can take encouragement from the efforts of another scrappy Queenslander.
Boxer Jeff Horn was an interested onlooker at Maroons training at Sanctuary Cove yesterday and was spotted deep in conversation with Wallace after the session.
Wallace was yesterday confirmed as a starter in Queensland’s team for their must-win clash in Sydney, where he will achieve a lifelong dream by making his State of Origin debut.
Horn too is ready for the fight of his life when he takes on Manny Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight world title in Brisbane on July 2.
And he is taking inspiration from the Maroons, who presented him with a jersey after training yesterday.
“It’s very cool. I have never been at a training session before,” Horn said.
“We are both in the same boat being the underdogs for this one. I guess we are both in a big fight.
“I watched them at the Cauldron at the last match and I was picturing myself in the middle winning the bout against Manny.”
The countdown is on for Horn, who fights Pacquiao in just over a fortnight.
But he said he was trying to keep his life as normal as possible in the lead-up in a bid not to overthink the bout – just as the likes of Wallace and fellow debutants Coen Hess and Tim Glasby will be doing ahead of Wednesday’s Origin clash.
“I try not to let the pressure get to me. I will fight as well as I can on the day and hopefully that is good enough,” he said.
As for fighting one of the Maroons ... that is not something Horn has on his agenda.
At a tick below 70kg, Horn weighs in almost 30kg less than most of the team. And as a true Queenslander, Horn said he wouldn’t want to take any of them on anyway.
THE RUNAWAY BAY TEARAWAY P5