Super Rugby: Waratahs lock Jed Holloway reveals unusual match-day preparation

JUMPING into the sea with a spear in hand is not what most footballers do before playing a game, but it’s working wonders for Waratah Jed Holloway.

Waratahs forward Jed Holloway shows off a spearfishing catch.

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IT’S not your usual pre-match routine, and perhaps a few footy coaches may immediately put a stop to it, but spearfishing on game day has reaped benefits on and off the field for Waratahs forward Jed Holloway.

Firstly, his freezer is stocked with fresh crayfish and a variety of other seafood. More importantly, it has sparked a career revival for the 118kg backrower-turned-lock.

Holloway has been a highly impressive cog in the Tahs’ forward pack since being shifted into the second row a few weeks ago, and will be a linchpin in their bid to make the Super Rugby grand final.

Waratahs forward Jed Holloway shows off a spearfishing catch.

The 25-year-old credits his life away from rugby for improvements on the field after an injury-plagued three years.

“The guys have been giving me a bit of crap about my girlfriend moving over from the United States,” Holloway said.

“Getting my life sorted away from football, focusing on that, I love to do spearfishing and stuff like that so finding a good balance when I’m away from here and being happy reflects on my game.

“I think it’s starting to show now, at the right time of the year.”

Holloway revealed his unique pastime after training, as the Tahs prepare for their final regular round match against rivals the Brumbies at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Three Sunwolves struggle to bring a rampaging Jed Holloway down. Picture: AAP

“I’ve got a place down in the Royal National Park, and then I also go at Cronulla,” he said.

“I did it before the game on the weekend, Saturday morning, and I do it most days off as well.

“I get in there as much as possible.

“[I catch] blackfish, drummer, kingfish, a lot of lobsters — got a few waiting for me at home tonight that I’m keen to dig into.”

NSW will hope the seafood feast will fuel Holloway to skittle the Brumbies and quarter-final rivals to come, with the Tahs having already secured a home playoff after defeating the Sunwolves 77-25 last Saturday.

“We conceded 25 points against the Sunwolves, that’s not a very good defensive effort, that’s what we need to improve on in order to get better and compete with teams like the Crusaders, who we hopefully face in four or five weeks down the track in that grand final,” Holloway said.

Holloway secures lineout ball for the Waratahs. Picture: AAP

“[The Brumbies] are physical, they’re not going to throw it around, they’re going to try to play through us.

“It’s going to be on us again as a forward unit to really front up and take them on physically.

“Their maul’s been outstanding for years now, so we’re relishing that challenge and can’t wait to rip into them.”

Holloway’s move to lock to partner Rob Simmons has been unexpectedly fruitful.

“The transition has been pretty easy, I played a lot of under-20s there and starting out my first couple of years at Southern Districts I was in the second row,” he said.

“Then I transitioned back to No.8. Obviously with the personnel we’ve got here with Wellsy (No.8 Michael Wells) playing outstanding all year, Will Miller coming into the squad and being great for us, and Ned [Hanigan] playing a bit of Wallabies there (at blindside flanker), a positioned opened there for me and I was more than happy to jump in.”

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Originally published as Super Rugby: Waratahs lock Jed Holloway reveals unusual match-day preparation