Gold Coast Titans forward Jai Arrow identifies ice baths and drinking ban as key for big year

Ice baths and swearing himself off alcohol are the keys to Gold Coast workhorse Jai Arrow making 2019 an even better year than his breakout NRL season.

ICE baths and swearing himself off alcohol are the keys to Gold Coast workhorse Jai Arrow making 2019 an even better year than his breakout NRL season.

This time last year, Arrow was flying under the radar, preparing for his maiden season in Titans colours having previously been in a run-on first grade team on just three occasions.

Fast forward to now and the 24-year-old concedes there is far more expectation on him, having played a starring role for the Titans at lock and establishing himself as part of Queensland’s rising State of Origin forwards brigade.

Jai Arrow celebrates as Queensland defeat NSW in State of Origin III last year at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Peter Wallis

“We’re only a young squad and I am starting to consider myself as a leader of this team,” Arrow said at Gold Coast’s beach holiday clinic at Coolangatta, which more than 120 children attended.

“I want to be the one that the boys look up to … I have got to stand up and I have very high expectations for myself this year.

“Yeah, I had a bit of a breakout year but if I can manage my body better and stay away from alcohol on the weekends it will go a long way towards me playing my best footy.”

Arrow, who has yet to miss a minute of training this pre-season, admitted he “hit a wall” in the latter part of last year as back and knee injuries struck.

Arrow is back to leading the way at the Titans. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

Managing his body better is set to involve more ice baths, cupping treatment and using a roller, with the hope he’ll be able to continue making an impact until the final whistle of the season.

“I will be the first to put my hand up where I probably didn’t manage it as best as I could,” he said of the toll on his body throughout the 2018 campaign.

“It’s just getting in the ice baths a lot more and a lot of rehab before gym and before field as well.”

Arrow hopes his self-imposed drinking ban will further help him reap the rewards on the field.

“Drinking is probably not the best thing. I wouldn’t say I did it every weekend but there was a fair few occasions where I would go out and enjoy myself but I’m going to try to stay off it now,” Arrow said.