Sport
23 April, 2021
Pride to battle their devils
FOUR games into the Intrust Super Cup season and the Northern Pride combinations are starting to gel and produce the results.
Whilst it still may be early in the season the performances thus far from Ostwald, Steadman, Griffin and Corrigan are cause for optimism for Northern Pride fans.
This weekend the Northern Pride will face the undefeated Norths Devils at Barlow Park. The Pride are currently sitting 5th on the ladder after 2 wins, a loss and a draw, with Norths 4 from 4.
Last week’s last gasp win over the Blackhawks has served to boost the confidence of the Pride unit.
Pride Coach, Ty Williams is expecting a tough encounter this week, however last week’s win has lifted the spirits of his team.
“The boys got a bit of mojo back on the weekend.
“I think our clear focus this week is backing up the performance we had on Saturday night,” Williams said.
The team will be looking to start strong and be on point from the start of the game after slow starts to both earlier games against the Falcons and Capras in rounds one and two.
Chris Ostwald will start at 9 this week and Williams is expecting a strong performance.
“We have to be smart with Ossie because he’s a bull out of the gate.
“You saw that against Wynnum, when Hodgo went off, Ossie went really hard then we had no interchange, and we flatlined at the back end.
“We’ve got to be very careful with how the game is managed with Chris, given he’s so fast out of everywhere, especially his defensive movements because he gets off the line and puts good pressure on,” Williams said
Jayden Corrigan has stamped his authority on the fullback’s jumper this year, after relocating from Brisbane and a stint with Norths Devils.
Corrigan has proved effective in attack with 19 tackle breaks and 181 kick return metres and 2 tries from 4 games this season.
Head to head the Pride have the rub, with 5 wins and a draw from 10 games. However in recent times the Devils have had the measure with two thumping wins in 2018, round 8 and round 20.
THE TEAMS
Northern Pride v Norths Devils at Barlow Park, Cairns, on Saturday from 5.30pm.
Northern Pride
1. Jayden Corrigan, 2. Shawn Bowen, 3. Grant Anderson, 4. Javid Bowen, 5. Bernard Lewis, 6. Jake Clifford, 7. Thomas Steadman, 8. Rodney Griffin, 9. Chris Ostwald (c), 10. Nick Lui Toso, 11. Joshua Stuckey, 12. Peter Hola, 13. Tom McGrath, 14. Ewan Moore, 15. Helium Luki, 16. Ieremia Nanai, 17. Terrence Casey-Douglas, 18. Cephas Chinfat, 19. Matthew Egan, 20. Evan Child, 21. Brad Lupi.
Norths Devils
1. Bryce Donovan, 2. Rashaun Denny, 3. Tony Tumusa, 4. Connor Broadhurst, 5. Jonathon Reuben, 6. Tyson Gamble, 7. Jack Ahearn, 8. Michael Molo, 9. Michael Sio, 10. Leivaha Puhi, 11. Moses Noovao-McGreal, 12. Brendan Frei, 13. Petero Nakubuwai, 14. Calum Graham, 15. Xavier Willison, 16. Piki Rodgers, 17. Liam Horne,
