Sport
23 May, 2025
So close, yet so far for Northern Pride against Bears
TIME is playing against a Northern Pride that can’t seem to withstand the pressure through the 80 minutes of play, once again, falling against the Burleigh Bears at home last weekend in a tight match 16-18.
Although their technical footy keeps improving, Northern Pride continue to be unable to deliver results.
Coach Russ Aitken said the team continued to have problems maintaining the pressure throughout the 80 minutes of play, resulting in continuous ‘almost’ wins.
After another disappointing match, where the team could’ve actually taken the win, they know they need to lift a gear to face the Central Queensland Capras once again on their home ground in Rockhampton.
The Capras currently sit 12th in the ladder giving the 15th placed Pride an opportunity to ascend the ranks.
“It was hugely disappointing to throw away a 16-0 lead with 16 minutes to go, it’s not up to Queensland cup standards,” Mr Aitken said.
“We do have a team that can be 16 up and to lose by only two against a top four team shows the quality we do have in the group, however, that doesn’t get you the results, so we let ourselves down defensively in the first half.
“Although we held on, we spent a lot of energy in areas where we shouldn’t have had to and in the second half when we gave away seven tackles that was turning point. From then we didn’t manage to regain the momentum that we had.”
Mr Aitken said to turn the cup around, they needed to learn to keep the pressure up from beginning to end.
“It’s all about individual accountability, that’s the only way we’ll be able to keep our footy up through the 80 minutes,” he said.
“Because we didn’t start well, we’re spending a lot of energy in that early part and that costs us in the back end of the game.
“You can tell by the scores that we’re not being blown out of the water, our footy isn’t wrong but it’s on individuals not nailing their role, each play, through the 80 minutes.
“It’s also on me to look at what we’re doing and making subtle changes to our training.”
Mr Aitken said that the Capras was going to be a really physical team and Pride had to be prepared for it.
“What they lack in experience they make up with physicality, so we need to pay the Capras the respect they deserve,” he said.
