Lewis wants Wallace back in Maroon
JAI Arrow’s injury last night might all but cement Gold Coast teammate Jarrod Wallace’s return to the State of Origin arena but Maroons legend Wally Lewis believes the latter had already offered a perfect reminder of his value.
Wallace was devastated to miss the cut for Game One and has responded by turning in three huge performances in Titans colours.
The front-rower ran for 197m against the Cowboys, then 206m against the Broncos and another 164m in last night’s 24-20 loss to the New Zealand Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium.
The latter two figures represented a game-high figure among all forwards.
With Joe Ofahengaue already sidelined and Arrow in major doubt after suffering a suspected syndesmosis injury, the door is open for hardened Queensland props Wallace and Tim Glasby. Lewis was especially impressed by Wallace’s showing at Suncorp Stadium last Sunday.
“His performance last week was the best that he’s had in a couple of weeks so the timing of his reminder was pretty good,” said Lewis, who spoke at a function at North Burleigh Surf Club yesterday.
The man known as “The King” takes confidence from the “extremely dominant” efforts of Queensland halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster in Game One to believe they can wrap up the series in Perth.
“It probably allows us to feel quite confident about going into Game Two,” he said.
“I guess it’s also about who gets picked for NSW, can they increase their team and try to make a few changes and there’s already been a few suggestions on (that).
“But Queensland has probably just got to make sure that they go into the game with an identical plan.”