Titans prop Jarrod Wallace pledges future to Gold Coast
THE Titans are set to up the ante for Canberra prop Shannon Boyd in a bid to bolster their pack, after Jarrod Wallace agreed to a new $2.5 million contract upgrade.
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THE Titans are set to up the ante for Canberra prop Shannon Boyd in a bid to bolster their pack, after Jarrod Wallace agreed to a new $2.5 million contract upgrade.
Wallace’s contract saga came to an end on Monday, with the Queensland Origin prop agreeing to a four-year deal that will see him stay on the Gold Coast until 2022.
The new deal came following pressure from Titans coach Garth Brennan, who had slapped a Monday deadline on the star prop.
Now the club will turn their attention to Boyd, in a bid to further boost their pack for 2019 and beyond.
It is understood the club have tabled a $2.4 million offer for the former Test firebrand and Brennan hopes to receive an answer from Boyd in the coming days.
“We are pleased to have Jarrod tied up and I am still interested in Shannon,” Brennan said.
“We have tabled a good offer to Shannon and we’re hopeful of getting an answer from him soon.
“We can afford both guys under the salary cap. It might affect our ability to recruit in other areas but a forward rotation of Wallace, Boyd, Ryan James and Jai Arrow is pretty formidable.”
Wallace was also confident about the Gold Coast’s future, after revealing he stayed at the club for his family and teammates.
“I know it’s a big deal and I’m really excited to pay back the (faith),” he said.
“We’re building nicely (at the Titans). I’m really stoked that I get to stay and play.
“I’m glad I don’t have to go. Now we have to put some performances on the board.
“We’ve got a lot of new combinations and a lot of boys trying to find their feet. It’s exciting times.”
The Titans were in danger of losing Wallace after he met with Newcastle officials last week, but Brennan’s take-it-or-leave-it stance has convinced the 26-year-old to pledge his future to the Gold Coast.
It is a retention coup for the embattled Titans, who are so confident Wallace can spearhead their pack for the long haul they have outlaid in excess of $600,000 annually for the former Bronco.
Wallace was capable of attracting offers of around $700,00-a-season on the open market, but the Gold Coast’s lifestyle and his status as local junior were key factors in his decision to stay.
Wallace had until June 30 to take up an existing 12-month option in his favour, but has waived that clause to ink a more lucrative four-year extension.
The 108kg front-rower broke into the Origin arena last season with Queensland and is expected to be chosen in the Maroons team for Origin I on June 6.
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