South Sydney have turned to Australian cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia for inspiration in their bid for premiership glory.
Opetaia was invited to address the Rabbitohs on Friday morning to share his story in a bid to motivate the side before the big season-ending games, which begin against the Cowboys on Saturday. A huge Souths fan, Opetaia showed off the IBF and Ring Magazine belts he took from Mairis Briedis, a victory achieved despite suffering two separate breaks of his jaw.
The 27-year-old spoke about that experience and other setbacks he overcame in the lead-up to the epic win, including the death of his grandmother and the serious rib and hand injuries he suffered.
“It was so nerve-wracking going in and speaking to those boys, it was an honour,” Opetaia said. “I woke up more nervous than I did on fight day. I told them the backstory of what happened behind the scenes and how I was mentally.
“It’s about pushing beyond those mental barriers, that was the idea of it. They asked me to come and motivate them and get them on the same page, but it’s also doing the same thing for me.
“Being there, getting to learn more about them and even watching them interact with their coaches, I was trying to be a sponge and soak it all in.”
Souths star Latrell Mitchell with cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia.
Opetaia remembers watching Rabbitohs enforcer Sam Burgess taking the opening hit-up of the 2014 grand final, suffering three fractures of his eye socket and still playing on to win the Clive Churchill Medal. At the time, he thought Burgess was “crazy” but years later Opetaia produced a feat of such courage that the Rabbitohs wanted to hear the account first hand.
“It’s a different playing field, but it’s the mentality I respected,” Opetaia said. “Even the way he took that first hit-up, he sprinted as hard as he could. That’s how you should do everything in life, at 100 per cent.”
Asked who his favourite player is, Opetaia said: “You have to give it to Latrell at the moment. He is such a weapon.”
With upcoming games against the Cowboys and arch rivals the Roosters just before the play-offs, Souths coach Jason Demetriou said Opetaia was the ideal person to motivate the squad.
Australian IBF cruiserweight boxing champion Jai Opetaia shared his inspirational story with the Rabbitohs.
“It was received really well, the boys were a bit shocked to see him,” Demetriou said. “We kept it pretty quiet, nobody knew he was coming in. He brought his belts in and did a Q and A and about his journey to a world title fight and the adversity he went through.
“It was outstanding. The adversity he went through to take that opportunity, he said he just had to get it done. That’s what he was there for, that’s what all of that work and sacrifice over the years was about.
“It’s so special. You hear about people breaking their jaw, but to break it in two places, on both sides, in separate rounds, and then to hold on and win the fight is huge.”
Opetaia posed for photos with the players, Demetriou and club legend Bob McCarthy during his Redfern visit.
Jai Opetaia with Souths legend Bob McCarthy.
“We’ve had players this year who have done pretty special things; Campbell Graham played 55 minutes with several fractures in his face and Michael Chee Kam broke and dislocated his thumb and played for 45 minutes,” Demetriou said.
“But to do it when someone is punching you in the face is pretty special. There were some good correlations in some things we’ve been through this year and come through and he has as well.”
Opetaia also addressed Parramatta players on the eve of their 53-6 drubbing of the Broncos.
“The Parra players asked awesome questions, they were reaching out athlete to athlete,” Opetaia said.
Opetaia is still feeling the effects of jaw surgery; he is yet to be able to eat a steak or return to full training. However, after watching Oleksandr Usyk keep his undefeated record intact in a rematch against Anthony Joshua last weekend, the Australian said he was up for the challenge of facing the world’s best heavyweight.
“It’s all about preparation and training, getting ready for that fight,” he said. “I would take that fight with both hands, 100 per cent.”
Meanwhile, Jaxson Paulo will move across Anzac Parade next season after signing a two-year deal with the Roosters.
Paulo dropped out of the Rabbitohs side after a difficult night against premiers Penrith last week, which was met with death threats and social media abuse. Taane Milne has been called onto the wing for Saturday’s clash after Izaac Thompson succumbed to a hamstring injury.
With Dan Walsh
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