Trust a Toowoomba boy to take the battle no person else wished.
Just 48 hours after Fox Sports Australia revealed there wasn’t an NRL participant anyplace wished to throw fingers with Tongan World Cup star Siosiua Taukeiaho, a lone hand has lastly shot up.
That of retired South Sydney enforcer Jaiman Lowe.
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“Although I actually said yes before knowing exactly who I was fighting against,” Lowe instructed Fox Sports Australia with fun.
“Which probably doesn’t make this the smartest decision.
“But I’m here.
“And to be honest, surprised nobody else wanted it.”
Now aged 39, and spending his days shifting containers at a Townsville port, Lowe has agreed to throw down with Taukeiaho on the undercard of Paul Gallen’s hyped Sydney farewell subsequent Wednesday.
Which is apt.
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Especially when recalling how again in 2011, and after being instructed he was not as much as NRL normal, it was this identical Queensland powerful pouring schooners behind a bar when he took a name.
That time, from one other fella you may know – Craig Bellamy.
Which is how inside the house of two years, Lowe went from hardworking barman to NRL premiership winner with Storm.
Wonderfully, this old fashioned enforcer is not any stranger to throwing them both.
With Lowe – among the many final males to ever put on electrical tape round his head within the NRL – having famously kayoed Gold Coast’s Brett Delaney, thrown down with Ryan Hoffman and even rushed from the bench for the notorious Battle of Brookvale.
In current years, the father-of-three has additionally undertaken a handful of charity boxing fights and, in June, made his skilled boxing debut – ultimately shedding to undefeated John Maila through third spherical TKO.
“But everything about that night,” Lowe says, “I loved”.
Which is why when promoter George Rose referred to as him at work this week to investigate a couple of battle, earlier than even understanding the title of his opponent he stated sure.
Then instantly, when residence to inform his three daughters the news.
“And my oldest Jordan is 17, so she thought it was great,” Lowe says.
“While my youngest Indie is only five, so she doesn’t really know what’s going on …”
But his center woman?
“That’s Dakotah, 14,” he cackles.
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“When I gave her Taukeiaho’s name she went straight to Google.
“Then after a few moments, she looked up and said ‘dad, you’re going to get killed’.”
But fear?
“Mate, I’ve got nothing to lose,” Lowe says merely.
“I’ve never seen the guy fight so I’m certainly not going to say he can’t.
“But so far all I know is what I’ve read about him.
“So I can understand why nobody wants the fight. Especially professional boxers who are early on in their careers.
“When you’re trying to protect a record, you don’t really want to take on somebody who is so unknown.
“But I’m not building a career here.
“That’s why when the opportunity came up, I took it.
“I don’t want to be one of those old guys sitting at the bar saying what I could’ve done.”
Lowe’s choice to battle has additionally been welcomed by No Limit CEO Rose, who feared no person would step as much as face the person being dubbed each TKO and ‘The Next Paul Gallen’.
“We have a fight and it’s going to be a cracker,” Rose stated.
“I was pretty surprised somebody accepted so late … I thought our chances of getting Taukeiaho a fight were gone.
“But Jaiman, he’s an extremely tough debut for TKO.
“He won a premiership with Melbourne under Bellyache and never shied away from the tough stuff.
“Even pushed the line on occasion.
“I’ve been told to expect bombs, so I can’t wait for these two big boys to go at it.”
So as for what Lowe expects from his rival?
“Ah, a big overhand right that you don’t want to get hit flush by,” he laughs.
“But a right hand is also my biggest asset too. So I’m not expecting this one to go the distance.”