PUTTING HEART AND SOUL INTO IT
SEAGULL’S REMARKABLE RETURN FROM ‘MINISTROKE’
CHRISTIAN Hazard is taking inspiration from his Tweed halves partner Ryley Jacks as he chases an elusive NRL opportunity.
Hazard has spent recent first-grade pre-seasons in the Knights and Titans systems and will have his next chance to put his best foot forward in the annual Queensland v NSW Residents match.
The 24-year-old will be the only player from a Gold Coast club in the Intrust Super Cup representative fixture after being called up late following the withdrawal of a number of NRL affiliated players.
“Actually for the week off I was going to head to Taree to see Mum and Dad and I was just at the beach and had a missed call from JB (Residents coach Jon Buchanan),” Hazard said of his Monday call.
“I was wondering what he was ringing me for and then I remembered it is Residents week so I quickly rang him back.”
That Jacks plodded along in the ISC for a while before rising to the NRL – debuting for Melbourne in 2017 at age 24 – on the back of a single breakout year is not lost on Hazard.
“Definitely, I had a good chat with Jacksy. I have seen what he has done,” he said.
“I am just trying to stay injury-free and keep putting good performances in and hopefully get a call-up whenever. I am still chasing (NRL), yeah.”
Born in Toowoomba, Hazard missed the opening three rounds of the year through injury but has returned to be part of a Seagulls outfit that are seventh with a 6-3 record.
The Residents showdown will kick off at 1.10pm tomorrow at Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe.