Jamal’s double day out
May 27, 2013: As the Gold Coast Titans prepare to restart their 2020 NRL season, we revisit the club’s biggest win, when Jamal Idris dominated Parramatta.
JAMAL Idris has credited his mother for his dramatic form turnaround after the big centre issued a reminder to NSW coach Laurie Daley he is ready to return to the Origin arena in the Titans’ recordbreaking 42-4 thrashing of Parramatta yesterday.
Idris was dynamic at Mudgee, bagging a double as the Titans eclipsed their previous best winning margin (36-0 against Canberra earlier this year) with the 38-point win to move to sixth on the ladder.
The towering centre was damaging in attack and defence, putting winger Anthony Don away for the first try of the game with a deft offload and producing a number of crucial plays.
And the 110kg strike weapon said the influence of his mother, Alana Simon, had turned around his career after a disappointing debut season on the Gold Coast last year.
“My mum’s been awesome. I’ve been flying her up and she’s been staying with me for two weeks in a row,’’ the 22-year-old said.
“She comes to every home game I have now. It’s good to have her there. I needed my mum. `After last year, I was in a bit of a bad headspace.
“It’s easy for people to bag you when you’re injured and down. The hardest thing to give is a compliment.
“My family’s going to be there forever. When you’re down and out they’re the ones that are going to pick you up.’’
Idris made his sole Origin appearance in 2010 but is now in the type of form that saw him earmarked as a representative star from a young age.
He will make his 100th NRL appearance against the Cowboys at Skilled Park on Sunday and said he was ready for a NSW call-up throughout the 2013 series.
“I’ve just found a balance in life and Carty’s (Titans coach John Cartwright) helped me out.
“I’ve been sitting down with Carty nearly twice a day since the start of the season and just talk to him. Not about footy, just life. He’s helped me out tremendously.’’
SHE COMES TO EVERY HOME GAME I HAVE NOW. IT’S GOOD TO HAVE HER THERE. I NEEDED MY MUM.” JAMAL IDRIS