Jets play with Biggs prospects

TOP CHANCE: Jarrod Biggs, last season’s IRL player of the year, starts at fullback for the Ipswich Jets FOGS Cup team’s opening game against Easts.

Sarah Keayes

WILLIAM Zillman’s demotion from the Gold Coast Titans to the Ipswich Jets this weekend could have spelt bad news for Jarrod Biggs.

But Biggs must have done something right as he held his spot at the back for the Jets FOGS Cup team to play Easts tomorrow, despite Zillman being named the Jets Queensland Cup fullback.

Luke Walker, who has been starting at fullback for the Queensland Cup team during trials moves to the wing.

Biggs’ selection came in spite of his own modest appraisal of his trial form.

“There were good patches and mistakes, as there always is in trials,” he said.

It was not through lack of effort on Biggs’ part.

“Since Christmas I’ve tried really hard to commit to it, switch on a bit and improve,” he said.

Biggs credits FOGS coach Rhett Tronc with helping him and the team play some good football.

“We’ve lost (our trials) but we’ve started to come good,” the 2009 Ipswich Rugby League (IRL) player of the year said.

“Once we started to do what Rhett is teaching us. It is hard in trial games, there are a lot of changes.”

Biggs played Queensland Cup in 2006 but has noticed the huge rise in standards since then.

“Back then FOGS was a lot weaker,” he said. “FOGS Cup players now would have been playing Q Cup back then.

“I think that level just seems to be getting stronger and stronger.

“It is a massive step up from the IRL. The guys you are playing against are athletes, they’re all big and strong. I’m still getting used to it.

“There are not many times after games in the IRL where you have injuries in corks. After our first two trials I was struggling to get out of bed.”

Biggs has been working hard to bulk up but is struggling to put weight onto his 83kg frame.

“I want to play my best footy in FOGS and be at the stage where week-in, week-out I’m playing my best footy,” he said. “I want to get my standard and ability up.”

Yet Biggs is not harbouring thoughts of an elevation to the Queensland Cup squad just yet.

“It would be pretty optimistic to think about getting picked in the Q Cup,” he said.

The physical education student won’t be just waiting at the back for things to happen.

He was judged the IRL’s best last season because of the way he cut opposition defences to shreds when he got involved around the rucks, running into gaps.

“I don’t want to be out there waiting for the footy,” Biggs said.

“The way (Tronc) wants me to play is to follow the ruck area around the field looking for a chance to jump in.”