Sport
27 June, 2025
‘Rivalry’ on show
BARLOW Park will come alive this Saturday as the Northern Pride host the Townsville Blackhawks for 'rivalry round', with a full day of rugby league, local talent and community spirit on show.
It’s shaping up to be an action-packed day with curtain-raisers, a historic women’s home game and a high-stakes Hostplus Cup showdown drawing players and fans from across Far North Queensland.
After a much-needed 40-14 win over the Toowoomba Clydesdales, the Pride’s Hostplus Cup (HPC) side comes into the match with confidence and renewed focus. The result lifts them to 12th on the ladder, and with momentum finally swinging their way, the push to climb further has begun.
“It was great to see our HPC boys get the win last weekend and build some confidence,” said chief executive Garreth Smith.
“With momentum now on our side, it’s crucial we continue building and stringing together more wins,” he said.
Standing in their way is top-of-the-table Townsville, a strong side that claimed a victory over the Pride in round three with a 28-14 win at home.
But Pride fans know anything can happen at Barlow Park and the fierce rivalry between the two clubs has a history of close, hard-fought encounters.
“It’s going to be a huge day of rugby league, so come on down, show your colours, see you all at Barlow Park,” Mr Smith said.
The main game kicks off at 5.30pm, but the action starts much earlier in the day. At 10am, Barlow Park will come alive with FNQRL’s female A grade 'magic round', featuring three exciting matchups that showcase the skill and growth of local women’s rugby league across the Far North.
The Pride’s BMD Premiership squad will then take centre stage at 3.20pm in a historic moment for the club – their first home game. The side will face off against Wynnum Manly Seagulls in round three of their debut season.
Last week’s physical contest against the Clydesdales proved to be a tough test for the inaugural women’s side, who were commended for their strong fightback in the first half.
Head coach Col Wilkie is pleased with the team’s progress but has identified second-half discipline as a key area for improvement.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early and make the most of a full day of footy at Barlow Park, kicking off with FNQRL’s female A grade magic round from 10am, followed by the Pride’s BMD Premiership clash with Wynnum Manly Seagulls at 3.20pm, and the main event, the Hostplus Cup rivalry round showdown with the Townsville Blackhawks at 5.30pm.
