Young Jet soars in Q-Cup call up

DESPITE having just 24 hours notice that he would be playing his first Queensland Cup game, Ipswich Jets colt Callum Waldrum showed why he was handed the senior side’s coveted number 7 jersey.

The 18-year-old was thrown into the Jets’ top outfit after veteran halfback Ian Lacey aggravated a quad strain on match eve.

Waldrum gave the Jets creativity in attack, having a significant hand in their 32-16 win over the Easts Tigers at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday night.

The light-footed five-eighth scored the Jets’ first try after picking up the scraps from a Todd Riggs bomb.

But Waldrum soon showed he could do more than just be in the right place at the right time.

He chased down an Easts player who looked certain to score.

He took Easts star Lagi Setu head-on several times and threw a sublime no-look short ball for William Zillman to scoot away and eventually link with Smith Samau for one of the game’s many spectacular tries.

The apprentice plumber, who was the outstanding player in last year’s Jets colts’ team, said he was amazed at the intensity in the Queensland Cup.

“It was more full-on than I expected actually,” Waldrum said.

“I was not that nervous beforehand and all the boys were geeing me up through the game and making me feel comfortable.

“It was a good experience and hopefully I can get another chance in the side soon.”

Waldrum may have an extended run in the Jets side after five-eighth Todd Riggs suffered a knee injury which may rule him out of next week’s match against Redcliffe at Dolphin Oval.

Jets coach Glenn Lazarus was impressed with Waldrum.

“I told him before the game, I don’t need you to score five tries, just make the tackles you need to and be there in support,” Lazarus said.

“If Riggs or Lacey are not right next week, then Callum will certainly get another run.”

The Jets match was interrupted by a 10-minute delay when one of the ground’s light towers failed.

Players milled around the centre of the field as the referees debated how long they had to wait before possibly cancelling the game. The players all wanted to continue playing despite one corner of the ground being dark.

Meanwhile, the maligned pitch in the middle of the North Ipswich Reserve caused a handful of players to slip but there were no injuries and players reported they were not bothered by it.

A match attracted a healthy crowd, larger than most of last year’s crowds at Briggs Road.