Boxing first, then the Blues: Jason Saab says he’s ready for State of Origin

Manly winger Jason Saab is preparing for his professional boxing debut this weekend, but has one eye on State of Origin and Test footy.

Manly winger Jason Saab says he’s ready to play State of Origin and Test football after gaining confidence through boxing.

Saab is currently combining a gruelling NRL pre-season with training for his professional boxing debut this Saturday night.

The mental and physical workload has him eyeing up a Blues jersey in 2024.

“Boxing has helped me a lot with my confidence,” the 23-year-old tells this masthead. “So now I’m thinking that I can play Origin, or I can play for Australia.

“Physically I feel like I’m the best winger in the comp. I truly believe that. I just need the mental state to go along with that – that’s what separates the club players from the Origin players, the mentality.

“I’ve played over 60 games, now it’s time to start thinking about pushing for those jerseys. It’s something I believe in myself to achieve.”

Saab has become one of the game’s best wingers since his breakthrough 2021 season with Manly. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

After scoring a double on the debut for the Dragons in 2019, Saab really broke through in 2021 when he scored 26 tries in 27 games after moving to Manly.

While he always had the physical capability, he knew he needed to work on the mental aspect of the sport to reach the next level.

Boxing has helped, but Saab also revealed he has been working closely with mind coach Andrew May.

“He also works with Timmy Tszyu, and he comes into the club every week and we do mental skills workshops,” Saab says. “I work with him closely outside of the club as well.

“Sometimes, I can be down on confidence and go into my shell a little. But with boxing, it’s just you or me, so now I’m more aggressive, and more competitive on the field.

“I’m just more confident as a person too. It transfers to everyday life.”

Saab admits he has struggled for confidence at times. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Saab also has one eye on taking back the title of the NRL’s fastest player from Ronaldo Mulitalo.

In a shock result, the Sharks winger finished 2023 with the fastest top speed on the NRL’s Telstra Tracker with 37.18km/h, while Saab was second with 37.11km/h.

“I messaged him, ‘Congrats, you win’,” Saab laughs. “He just messaged back saying the numbers must be wrong.

“But I don’t buy into it too much. No one’s going to remember how fast you ran if you didn’t tackle the guy or score the try.”

Ronaldo Mulitalo is one of the game’s great competitors. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The pair have an ongoing rivalry which started with a bet over a Michael Jordan photo, but Saab says there are things he can learn from Mulitalo.

“He put something on his IG story before we played them and I saw he had the same Michael Jordan wallpaper as me on his computer,” Saab says. “I messaged him and said, ‘Loser changes their wallpaper’.

“We lost so I had to change it. But then we beat them in Cronulla and I didn’t hit him up about it. He’s probably still running around with that wallpaper.

“We have a good bit of banter. Off the field he’s a champion, but on the field I can’t stand him. He just competes. Every rep player has a bit of arrogance – not bad, not like you’re a gronk – but on the field they’re not your friend. That’s the difference.”

Saab is already eyeing up the opening round of the 2024 season, when Manly play the Rabbitohs at the state of the art Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to take back his title as the game’s fastest man.

First though, he takes on fellow boxing debutant Kusitino Tui this Saturday at Revesby Workers.

Jason Saab sparring with Joey Leilua, who also fights this weekend. Picture: Supplied

Saab has been putting in serious overtime in preparation for the fight, travelling between his coach Hussan al-Achrafi’s Hoxton Park gym and the Northern Beaches.

Manly coach Anthony Seibold is right on board with Saab’s extra workload, and the winger even expects a big turnout on Saturday night.

“Seibs is such a good coach, he knows his players so well, with how they think and what makes them tick,” he says. “He knows it’s going to be good for me and good for our team.

“We’ve got 20 blokes coming down. I honestly didn’t expect anyone to come to watch. I thought maybe a couple of the boys I’m close with would come, but I think Turbo’s coming down as well.

“I’ve gotta give them something to watch now. They’re coming all the way from the Beaches, so I need to impress them.”

Originally published as Boxing first, then the Blues: Jason Saab says he’s ready for State of Origin