Wallace inspired by dad's secret hand signals in stands

When Titans prop Jarrod Wallace needs inspiration during a game he only has to look in the stands to his father Craig, who has a variety of hand signals to give his son a lift.

The relationship between the duo is strong after Jarrod packed down in the front row with his old man in hundreds of scrums for Sawtell and Runaway Bay Seagulls.

Jarrod gets a ticket allocation for home games for his family and knows where they are sitting when he runs out.

When times are tough on the park, a glance in Craig's direction does the trick. The signals, known only to father and son, reflect their tight bond.

On Saturday afternoon Craig will be on hand for the first Titans home game of the year with fans allowed. He was there at Suncorp Stadium last week to watch his son play his part in the 30-12 upset over the Broncos.

"Every home game he is there and when I need a lift I look at him for inspiration because he has these little hand signals that he gives me," Jarrod told pan66.com

"There are a variety of different hand movements he has that mean I need to run harder or tighten up in my tackles, all that sort of stuff.

"We’ve always had that understanding since I was growing up and played with him.

"My family is my biggest supporter and I’d definitely say he is my number one. We always have a chat before the game where he rings me and wishes me good luck and asks how I am feeling."

Craig Wallace is well known in NSW country rugby league circles and a young Jarrod had an idol in his own home to look up to.

"Dad was always my inspiration growing up. He was the captain-coach of every team that he was with or at least the captain," Jarrod said.

"Being a front-rower I was inspired to be like him because he had a great career in country footy. He played NSW Residents and for Country for years.

"My goal and my dream was always to play with him and I finally got that chance and played four or five years with him at Sawtell and Runaway Bay Seagulls.

"There is a photo from our Sawtell days of me, him and one of our mates packing into a scrum together which was pretty cool."

Craig also had a "hand signal" for Jarrod when he had done a great job while the two were on the park.

"He was always a lot tougher on me. I remember when I was probably 16 and I did something really good, everyone else would give you a pat on the back and I would just get a smack across the back of the head from dad," Jarrod grinned.

"I don’t think he would even say anything. He’d just look at me and give me a big smack and we’d get on with the business.

"He was always harder on me because he knew I had a lot more to give. Being a young kid I was probably a bit lazier than normal so he pushed me to get me to where he would be."

Jarrod has lived up to that potential in his own right and he credits his father for setting him on the path. The 28-year-old has represented the Maroons six times over the past three seasons although his form this year has been up and down.

"There is not just one thing, but I definitely feel that he has moulded me into the front-rower player I am today because of the hard work ethic he had as a front-rower and the big motor," Jarrod said.

"He has always pushed me to be better and gave me that old school mentality ever since I played first grade as a young kid."

The win over the Broncos was special for Jarrod in a wider family sense too.

"My three little girls were there and for my 10-month old daughter Kennedy it was her first ever game. Maybe she is my good luck charm because I hadn't won a game since we beat the Broncos last year," Wallace said.

"Saturday will be Kennedy's first  ever game at Cbus. I have two other daughters - Lara and Payton - and they were stoked to be back watching because they couldn't really understand why they weren't able to go to the games."

Wallace is aware of reports linking him to the Dragons but said he was happy at the Titans and had every intention of staying at the club until the end of 2022 at least.

"It is all speculation. I have signed at the club for two more years after this one and I don't intend on going anywhere," Wallace said.

"The first I heard of [the rumour] was on social media so I asked my manager what was going on and he said he had no idea.

"I sat out a couple of weeks with a back and hamstring injury and with James Graham leaving maybe there was an enquiry about me, but I have heard nothing from my manager, my club or the Dragons.

I think we can do something really special at the Gold Coast under Justin Holbrook.

Jarrod Wallace

"All my family is here and I think we can do something really special at the Gold Coast under Justin Holbrook."

Wallace is determined to make sure the winning form continues against the Sharks.

"It was a great win against the Broncos but we don't want  to be a team that wins one week and loses the next three. We want to win a couple of game on the trot and then we will be happier with ourselves," he said.