NRL Gold Coast Titans enforcer Jarrod Wallace reveals secret hand signals’ role in comeback win

Dolphins prop Jarrod Wallace received secret hand signals from his father Craig in the Suncorp Stadium crowd that contributed to his match-winning display in a historic 28-26 comeback win over his former club Gold Coast.

It’s not often that a prop will instigate a revival from a 26-0 deficit but Wallace made 181m in 20 ferocious charges, set up a try, scored one and created sweeping attacking movements when he made incisive cameo No.6 appearances.

Wallace slotted into a playmaking position often in Sunday’s victory and set up a try for Mark Nicholls with a slick ball his childhood hero Darren Lockyer would have been proud of.

Jarrod’s father was sitting in row five near the Dolphins bench giving his son tips, such as when to steam onto the ball and when to unveil his Lockyer-like skills.

Craig Wallace was a legendary front-rower known throughout country NSW and Queensland for his quality and toughness.

Jarrod’s father (pictured) was sitting in row five near the Dolphins bench giving his son tips, such as when to steam onto the ball and when to unveil his Lockyer-like skills

At the age of 16, Jarrod made his first grade debut for the Sawtell Panthers in the front-row alongside Craig who was the captain-coach at the time.

‘Dad was here tonight and I looked up to him in the crowd at times. We have got hand signals that we have built up over the years,’ Jarrod explained in the Dolphins sheds.

‘There were times where he was telling me I needed to tuck it under and get forward, and times he was telling me to move the ball around too. He knows my football and how to get the best out of me.

‘Dad was a massive ball-playing front-rower. I grew up watching him and playing with him, so I have got that in my game.

‘When he tells me what to do, I do it. There was a time in the first half he said I needed to tuck it under the wing and get the momentum. I even got a little clap from him so I must have been going alright.’

Wallace bullocked his way over with sheer will-power as the Dolphins matched an all-time premiership record set by North Queensland in 1998 against Penrith to win a match after trailing by 26 points.

Wallace’s silky side to his game, as a ball distributor, is monitored by coach Wayne Bennett.

‘If it doesn’t pay off then I need to be ready for a clip around the ears,’ Wallace grinned, when asked if Bennett had given him a licence to thrill.

Wallace bullocked his way over with sheer will-power as the Dolphins matched an all-time premiership record set by North Queensland in 1998 against Penrith to win a match after trailing by 26 points

Wallace’s silky side to his game, as a ball distributor, is monitored by coach Wayne Bennett

‘That’s as much as my green light comes to.

‘Am I a frustrated five-eighth? Probably. A frustrated five-eighth in a big man’s body.

‘I am front-rower through and through but I like that (expansive) style of football. I know I can do it and I have confidence in my ability and a belief the boys are going to be there too and backing me up.’

That belief was well-placed when fellow prop Nicholls crashed onto a Wallace pass in the second half to score under the sticks.