State of Origin 2018: Maroons prop Jarrod Wallace knows his place is under threat
JARROD Wallace wasn’t the only Queensland player to misfire in Origin I but the underfire prop has vowed to up his game under threat of losing his place in the Maroons.
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UNDERFIRE Maroons prop Jarrod Wallace says his Origin career is on the line and has vowed to repay the faith of Queensland selectors following the MCG mauling that left him fearing the axe.
Wallace’s pledge comes as statistics show the Maroons bookend is the only Queensland prop of the past 20 years to have run for fewer than 50 metres in an Origin game on two occasions.
Wallace was restricted to 43 metres from five runs in Queensland’s 22-12 loss in Origin I – almost a year since he ran for just 21m in his Maroons debut in Game Two of the 2017 series at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
Now Wallace returns to Homebush hellbent on proving he is an Origin-quality front-rower as he braces for a return bout against the NSW pack that monstered their Maroons rivals in the series opener.
The Titans enforcer prides himself on exceeding 100 metres per game and with engine-room cohort Dylan Napa (ankle) under an injury cloud, Wallace says he must deliver.
“I have worked my butt off to get to this level. I don’t want to let this jumper go,” Wallace said.
“I was definitely disappointed with the loss in Melbourne and the way the game panned out for me. Injuries or not, I personally think I need to step up my game.
“I have high expectations on myself and what I did in Origin I wasn’t good enough. I wouldn’t say I was terrible – but it wasn’t to my standard.
“I pride myself on running the ball and getting the team on the front foot. I had five or six carries and that’s not up to standard in an Origin game.
“I didn’t get the ball enough in my hands, simple as that.”
The Blues destroyed Queensland in midfield in Origin I and Wallace was the poster boy for a Maroons forward pack that struggled to gain the ascendancy at the MCG.
The Maroons have a proud history of cultivating inspirational front-rowers, headlined by Arthur Beetson, Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva and Matt Scott, and Wallace is determined to uphold that legacy.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters will come under pressure to wield the axe if the Maroons’ dynasty comes crashing down this Sunday night, giving Wallace every motivation to replicate his dominant club form.
“I have to improve,” Wallace said.
“I know there are no guarantees. I was worried that they might pick someone else to do the job (after Origin I), so I am stoked that ‘Kevvie’ (Walters) and the selectors have that faith in me to get the job done and I want to repay that faith.
“The reality is when things aren’t going right in this game, changes need to be made. We did it last year when we lost game one and it worked for us. I was lucky to be part of the new guys who came in and I showed some glimpses last year that I can perform in this arena.
“A few times when I got the ball (in Origin I), I was passing instead of tucking it under my wing and running.
“I’m my harshest critic. I need to play my role to help us win this game and it’s important I play my part.”
Maroons halfback Ben Hunt backed Wallace, his former Broncos teammate, to respond in his fourth Origin game.
“I’m confident ‘J Wal’ can hit back,” he said.
“He is a quality player, he’s had a couple of Origins now and I know he is disappointed with his first game.
“He’s like Shane Webcke in the way he is built, he is the guy who can get our sets started and that’s what we need from him.
“He will be coming out to show his teammates that first game was not him and he wants to do his part. I have faith in him.”
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