Dual desire driving Titans front-rower
IF everything works out for Jarrod Wallace, this time next week he’ll be in camp with Queensland’s State of Origin team.
The front-rower is making a late charge to retain his Maroons jersey for next month’s series opener despite Gold Coast’s woeful start to the NRL season.
The Titans have slumped to 2-8 following last weekend’s defeat to Canterbury – their worst ever start to a campaign. Wallace was the shining light in the 22-16 loss to the Bulldogs, picking up 171m in the absence of Shannon Boyd (concussion).
Should he get a phone call from Queensland coach Kevin Walters, Wallace admits his personal joy will come with a sadness at leaving his Titans’ teammates to climb out of their hole.
The ideal scenario for the 27-year-old is being selected on the back of a much-needed win for the Titans tomorrow against in-form Manly.
“It’s always handy winning a couple of games going into an Origin because you’re not stressing or feeling like you’re leaving the boys in a bit of a down time,” Wallace said.
“It would be tough if that was to happen. We’ve just got to make sure that this week on Friday hopefully we can come out, put a good performance in, get a win and hopefully get that phone call next week to play Origin.”
While Wallace’s position remains up in the air, the selection of Brisbane’s Anthony Milford for the Maroons should be a no-brainer in the opinion of Broncos veteran Alex Glenn.
The New Zealand international says Milford’s form and game-breaking ability means he has to be in Queensland’s 17, whether in the halves or playing a utility role off the bench.
“He’s got that X-factor in that you can play him anywhere in the spine,” Glenn said.
“The thing with Milf is it’s great to have him in the back pocket. You can play him anywhere and he’ll perform.
“He’s playing some great football at the moment for us, it’d be stupid not to have him in there.”
HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME OUT, PUT A GOOD PERFORMANCE IN (AND) GET A WIN TITANS PROP JARROD WALLACE