Gold Coast Titans and Queensland Maroons forward Jai Arrow on his favourite Origin player and moment

The one State of Origin moment that stands out to Jai Arrow might surprise you for a bloke who comes across as “Mr Nice Guy.”

THE one State of Origin moment that stands out to Jai Arrow might surprise you for a bloke who comes across as “Mr Nice Guy.”

As a footy-mad kid keenly cheering on the Maroons, the most iconic memory Arrow recalls is the famous Gorden Tallis ‘rag doll’ tackle on Brett Hodgson in 2002, grabbing the Blues fullback by his jersey and relentlessly hurling him over the sidelines.

It was a moment that summed up Tallis’ status as a Maroons enforcer and epitomised why he was Arrow’s favourite player.

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“I did love watching Gorden Tallis,” the 23-year-old Queensland prop said.

“He was just so aggressive and he’s someone that everyone would say is an Origin player.

“I loved how aggressive he was.

Gorden Tallis manhandles Brett Hodgson in 2002.

“I’ve had a little bit to do with him (during Tallis’ role as a Gold Coast Titans ambassador) and he has been great in giving me some advice along the way. I have tried to take it onboard and use that in my game to make myself a better player as well.”

Aggression, it has to be said, is not the first word that comes to mind when you think of Arrow. Workhorse seems a far better fit.

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On the field, he is not the type to get caught up in scuffles; off the field, he is known as a relaxed character.

“There’s different types of aggression. When I go out there I try to be as aggressive as I can, in different ways,” Arrow said.

Jai Arrow. Picture: Getty Images

“I am probably not the angriest bloke on the field but I try to be aggressive in my contact and try to squeeze the life out of the opposition when we are on the ground.

“I try to be as aggressive as I can with my running as well.”

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The Keebra Park and Burleigh Bears product is only 55 NRL games and three Origin appearances into his career but was an automatic selection for the series opener at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

The only doubt was sparked by an injury scare at Titans training a little under a fortnight ago.

Jai Arrow in Maroons colours. Picture: Adam Head

“I sort of knew what had happened and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t panicking a bit,” he admitted.

“But I obviously went up and got some scans and it ended up being all right so I’m all good to go … it’s feeling really good.”

And thus, the path is clear for Arrow to relive one of the best moments of his life: Running onto Suncorp Stadium in a Queensland jersey.

“It is definitely a hard feeling to describe. I guess you have to be involved in it to know what it actually feels like,” he said.

“It’s something that I can’t wait to do again.”