Jai Arrow is crucial to Gold Coast Titans’ future success
Jai Arrow is a fair way short of achieving the influence Paul Harragon once held at Newcastle, but in terms of his importance to the future of the Gold Coast Titans he’s in the same league, writes MIKE COLMAN.
Opinion
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Over the last few weeks I’ve been listening to a very entertaining podcast put out by The Rugby League Digest which traces the Super League War in forensic detail.
The most recent episode, titled ‘Chief Drives the Bus’, explored the strategic importance of Newcastle to the warring sides and, in turn, the key role played by Knights captain Paul Harrogan.
At one stage, the podcast recounts the scene of Harragon sitting outside an office at ARL headquarters while inside the likes of Bob Fulton, Phil Gould, John Quayle, James Packer and Channel 9 boss David Leckie debated how much to offer him to sign a contract.
Apparently Harragon heard just two words through the door.
“He’s vital.”
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The offer they made reflected that importance, and he stayed loyal to the ARL. A few days later, after he had driven them down to Sydney in a minibus, the majority of the Knights players followed his lead and the ARL was back in the game.
I recalled that scene a couple of days ago when discussing the tug of war between the Titans and Rabbitohs over the signature of Jai Arrow.
Arrow is still a fair way short of achieving the position of eminence that Chief Harragon held at the Knights, but in terms of his importance to the future of the Titans he’s in the same league.
We hear a lot about big name players that the Titans are considering signing. Some they get, some they don’t. A lot they wish they hadn’t.
Rarely in the history of rugby league has one signing had the detrimental effect on a club that Jarryd Hayne’s recruitment managed to achieve at the Titans.
And rarely has a non-signing proved as harmful as that of Daly Cherry-Evans.
Sure there have been some good acquisitions, most notably Luke Bailey, Scott Prince and Mat Rogers, but they have been largely overshadowed by the big-name, big-money signings who have failed to produce the goods.
Instead they have under-achieved to the point of the club earning last season’s wooden spoon and approaching basket-case status.
We hear the Titans are keen to go down the same old road and sign Latrell Mitchell – a big-name, big-money player that no-one else wants – to pull them out of the mire.
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Forget it. If he can’t be pulled into line at the Roosters, he’s no hope on the Gold Coast.
We also hear that the Titans don’t want to get into a bidding war with Souths for Arrow’s signature because they have already paid too much for the likes of Tyrone Peachey and Shannon Boyd with little return.
Are they serious? Arrow is so different to those two that it’s ridiculous.
He is a young tyro who has proven that he is prepared to give everything he’s got to the Titans week in, week out. The fact that Wayne Bennett and the Rabbitohs are willing to pay him whatever it takes to replace Sam Burgess should be recommendation enough.
But more than that. Just like the ARL did back in 1995 with the Chief, signing Arrow would send a message, loud and clear.
One that says: we’re not finished, we’re still in the fight. It’s as clear as that. He’s vital.
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