Jai Arrow and Josh Papalii prepare for head to head battle to decide Queensland spot
LESSONS learned from a Queensland enforcer has steeled Titans ironman Jai Arrow as he braces for a State of Origin showdown with Raiders hulk Josh Papalii in Canberra.
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LESSONS learned from a Queensland enforcer has steeled Titans ironman Jai Arrow as he braces for a State of Origin showdown with Raiders hulk Josh Papalii in Canberra.
The Titans-Raiders clash at GIO Stadium will feature an intriguing subplot when rival locks Arrow and Papalii square off in a duel that will shape their Maroons’ selection hopes for Origin I.
Arrow is in the frame for an Origin debut after a blistering start to the season at his new club, while Maroons incumbent Josh Papalii is back in contention after being axed to reserve grade last month.
With McGuire (ankle) racing the clock to be fit for the series opener on June 6, Arrow could be the man to replace him, fuelled by tips from the Broncos lock and Queensland’s reigning player of the year.
“’Moose’ (McGuire) was a really good mentor for me at the Broncos,” said Arrow, who left Red Hill over summer to chase a starting spot at the Titans.
“He and Sammy Thaiday were always jumping in to help me out, so it was a great learning curve for me watching Josh being an established Origin player.”
Arrow was superb against the Sharks last week, amassing 188 metres, three tackle busts and 31 tackles. He knows he is tantalisingly close to an Origin debut after a candid pre-season chat with Queensland coach Kevin Walters.
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“I sat down with Kevvie and we had a one-on-one meeting,” said Arrow, who was chosen in Queensland’s Emerging Origin squad in January.
“He told me what I was capable of and said just keep working and if you do that, it (a Queensland jumper) will come for you.
“Going to the Emerging Camp, I was shocked with that, but Kevvie said I picked you for a reason, I think you can do some good things and that means a lot coming from someone like him.
“Kevvie has played over 200 first grade games and won premierships so it would be great to play Origin under him.”
The Titans need Arrow to fire to snap a three-match losing streak, but coach Garth Brennan is also banking on chief playmaker Ash Taylor to dismantle the Raiders.
Underlining the high expectations he has for the gifted Taylor, Brennan admits the Queensland Origin hopeful has yet to take complete control of Gold Coast’s attack.
“He has been inconsistent,” Brennan said.
“He didn’t take the ball to the line anywhere near what he needed to last weekend.
“Consistency is a big thing for Ash which comes with experience and age.
“I’ve always referred to it as Ash being like a jockey on the horse. He has to make sure he is steering them and heading in the right direction.
“He doesn’t have to have the ball in his hands all the time but he needs to be aware of where we’re heading and where the sets are finishing.
“I thought he didn’t do enough last weekend.
“When Ash plays well and he is on, we play well. There is no doubt about that.”
Originally published as Jai Arrow and Josh Papalii prepare for head to head battle to decide Queensland spot