When Ollie Pascoe made his Hostplus Cup debut in 2021 for the Brisbane Tigers against Wynnum and ran away to score under the posts he must have thought this Cup gig was easy, but it hasn’t turned out that way.
Some careers make every game well earned.
Pascoe will play his 50th Hostplus Cup this week against the Northern Pride for the Ipswich Jets.
“I did my shoulder twice and that’s a lot of time off so I just couldn’t get any momentum.” Pascoe said.
“Then, when I was playing finals in 2023, I did my elbow.”
He has played ten games for the Tigers, thirty-four for Wynnum and five for the Ipswich Jets.
Pascoe still looks fondly on his debut for the Brisbane Tigers.
“That debut was a real highlight, I didn’t play until the end of the season and to make my debut against a strong Wynnum side with my parents there, it was great,” Pascoe said.
“I scored too so that’s always handy.
“I have loved playing Cup, and I never put a total on the games I wanted to play but I am glad I got to 50 - and hopefully I can play a few more.
“I have played at three great clubs, but Ipswich and Tye (Ingebrigtsen) just presented a chance to come to Ipswich to be their starting hooker.
“It can be hard at clubs like the Tigers and (Wynnum Manly) Seagulls because they have such a strong NRL presence.
“Cory Paix played every game last season, and I just couldn’t get a go.
“Tye said if I come to Ipswich and work hard then there will be a chance to be the 9 all season so that’s what I have done.
Pascoe jumped at the chance to be a part of the project that the Jets are building.
He has started the season with a try in the first five games and three players’ player awards.
“We want to play hard as a football team, we want the opposition to know that if you’re playing the Jets, you have to play incredibly well to win.
“We all have a voice, and every player feels valued at the Jets with Tye.
“We are buying in and just have to keep it going because we have had a really good start to the season.”
That’s what Rugby League and the Ipswich Jets value - hard work and perseverance. It might take five years, but if you put in the work, the rewards will follow.
