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Pride thankful for support of volunteers
Northern Pride volunteer Robbie O'Kane
This week is National Volunteer Week, a week in which we celebrate the dedication and hard work of the six million Australians who generously give their time each year.
Northern Pride would like to acknowledge all the volunteers who work so tirelessly for the club in their own free time to help keep the club viable for the community.
One such group of volunteers is the O’Kane family, who have EIGHT of their family volunteering on Pride game days, most of whom have been with the Pride since the club’s inception.
“Volunteers are the life-blood for many organisations, including the Pride, and essential to our survival,” said Northern Pride Chief Executive Officer Chris Sheppard.
“The O’Kanes epitomise what volunteering is all about, donating their time for the good of the club.
“They are also very active in local junior rugby league, and there are two generations involved with four O’Kane children in the ball person squad this year.
“We thank them, and all our volunteers for the amazing support they give us.”
Robbie O’Kane (pictured) assists with team and game day operations, and was also the Assistant Coach with Northern Pride Under 16s.
Jamie and Sally O’Kane co-ordinate the junior teams and assist with game day operations.
Aidan, Charli, Dylan and Caleb O’Kane are all in the ball people squad, while brother-in-law Randall Wilson is the Game Day Bar Stock Manager.
“We do it because we just love our footy,” said Robbie.
National Volunteer Week, organised by Volunteering Australia and now in its 23rd year, is the largest celebration of volunteers and volunteering in Australia.
Further information about events for National Volunteer Week can be found at www.volunteeringaustralia.org
TY TIME: My knee will be fine for Norths
Northern Pride captain Ty Williams speaks to www.northernpride.com.au every week through his Ty Time column:
Well, I’m just about on the road to recovery following our bruising clash against Burleigh Bears last Saturday night. People had mentioned we were certs to win because they were bottom of the ladder and we were on a two-game winning streak – but there is no way that the Bears are a bottom of the table side, and we knew it would be a tough one. In the end, we were happy to come away with a nervy 24-22 victory.
I’d like to congratulate Maddie Oosen for a fine debut, and he’s certainly got a promising career ahead of him. He’s been knocking on the door this season, and I thought he was a real livewire for us.
Personally, it was nice to cross the white line again, but I’ll admit I was worried when I got hit late and my knee didn’t feel right. I’ve had a good couple of days recovery though and I’m still confident I’ll be right to face Norths Devils when we play them in Brisbane on Sunday.
The Devils may run hot and cold, but their hot is very hot. They’re a feeder club for the Broncos and we know they’ve got class across the park. Kurt Baptiste has impressed me when he’s played at NRL level, and Mitchell Frei is another top young player who played in the recent U20s State of Origin.
Speaking of Origin, it’s that time of the year again! I still get goosebumps when I see the mighty Maroons play, and I’ll be cheering them on as always. Good luck to my mate and fellow Innisfail boy Billy Slater, and all the rest of the Queensland side as they prepare for Origin 1 next Wednesday. I was proud to play for my State, and now I’m proud to be a fan cheering them on. Join me on the Esplanade on Wednesday, when for the first time the game will be screened live on the big screen – it should be a great family atmosphere. All the fun starts from 6pm.
And remember, if you can’t catch our game at Norths, you can always watch it live on the internet – just visit www.northernpride.com.au for details on our live stream.
Catch you next week,
Cheers, Ty
Meet Pride players for Red Shield Appeal
This Saturday is the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal. As with every year, the Northern Pride are proud supporters of the Salvo’s and the fantastic work they do in our community.
Northern Pride CEO Chris Sheppard said they were more than happy to help.
“We regularly work with charities like the Salvation Army,” he said. “All the players are locals and they are aware of the situation up here.
“It’s been a tough few years and they’re happy to get involved.”
For this reason, the Northern Pride players and coaching staff will this weekend be donating their time to help collect for this special cause. The activity will run from 10am–12pm at the following venues:
Pride recognised for being family friendly on match days
Northern Pride player Alex Starmer chats to families after the Pride’s Intrust Super Cup match against Wynnum Manly Seagulls earlier this month.
Northern Pride’s commitment to providing a safe, healthy and family friendly sporting environment has been boosted by becoming a Level 2 Good Sports club with the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program.
Good Sports is a free national program working with sporting clubs across three levels of accreditation to manage alcohol and ensure sport and family come first.
Good Sports North Queensland Regional Manager, Tony Hewitt, is impressed with Northern Pride’s leadership role and their commitment to the responsible management of alcohol.
“Good Sports works with the Northern Pride to ensure they are providing a safe environment for players and spectators,” Mr Hewitt said.
“Mums and dads won’t bring their kids to the game if it isn’t a safe.
“Northern Pride understand the important role they play in the community and the need to maintain a positive profile within the community.”
Northern Pride Chief Executive Officer Chris Sheppard said sporting clubs play an important role in the community, and the Pride is committed to providing a positive role model for young people at the club and within the local community.
“The Responsible Alcohol Management Practices we have implemented at our home games ensures a family friendly day at the footy,” said Mr Sheppard.
“Good Sports encourages a family atmosphere where people can come and enjoy themselves.
“Not only does this help attract spectators to the game, but it also improves the health and fitness of our community and help protect young people from alcohol and drug related problems.”
Displaying the Good Sports logo confirms the club promotes a responsible attitude towards alcohol and provides a safe environment for players, members, families and supporters.
Research shows that on average, Good Sports clubs are increasing female members by 11 per cent, and growing their non-player membership by 17 per cent.
For further information on the Good Sports program, visit www.goodsports.com.au or contact North Queensland Regional Manager Tony Hewitt on 0430 387477.
Pride face testing road trip
UNBEATEN for three weeks at home, the Northern Pride face a test to bring their new-found winning form on the road for Sunday’s clash against the Norths Devils.
After slumping to four straight defeats between rounds three and six, the Pride lifted themselves off the canvas to defeat the Sunshine Coast (26-12), Wynnum Manly (20-18) and Burleigh Bears (24-22) at Barlow Park.
Not even the Pride’s most ardent supporters can say their team have played their best football during the streak, but coach David Maiden said winning was slowly becoming a habit again.
“We’ve still got a lot of improvement in us. With the results we’ve been getting, they’ve been grafting wins, which is pleasing,” he said.
“We’re winning ugly, but we’re getting the job done and that’s the main thing.
“But we’re still letting ourselves down a bit in our core skills. We only completed at 64 per cent at the weekend.
‘‘We made it really hard on ourselves by only completing 10 of 17 sets in that second half.”
Maiden plans to address his team’s handling problems at training this week in anticipation of a tough contest at Bishop Park.
The Devils are two spots below the sixth-placed Pride on the ladder and are backing up a 32-28 victory over the Central Capras.
“It’s always tough at Bishop Park, and Sunday isn’t going to be any different,” Maiden said. “We always have tough battles against them and they’ve almost become traditional rivals for us.
“We have to go down in the right frame of mind if we want to give ourselves the best chance of victory.”
The Pride have made minimal changes to the 17 that beat Burleigh for Sunday’s match.
Cowboys Kalifa Faifai Loa and Cory Paterson will be missing after earning recalls to the NRL, but rookie rake Maddie Oosen has been retained after an impressive debut off the bench.
Northern Pride team: 1 Ben Fitzpatrick, 2 Davin Crampton, 3 Brett Anderson, 4 Rod Jensen, 5 Scott Gibson, 6 Ty Williams, 7 Ryan Ghietti, 8 Ben Spina, 9 Jason Roos, 10 Alex Starmer, 11 Ethan Lowe, 12 Blake Leary, 13 Joel Riethmuller, 14 Jamie Frizzo, 15 Saia Maikisi, 16 Mark Dalle Cort, 19 Maddie Oosen.
Round 10 team v Norths Devils
Northern Pride coach Dave Maiden (pictured) has named his team for the Round 10 Intrust Super Cup clash against Norths Devils at Bishop Park on Sunday.
As expected, Scott Bolton and Cory Paterson have been called up by the North Queensland Cowboys in the absence of Matt Scott and James Tamou, who will be facing each other in Origin 1. Saia Makisi comes onto the interchange bench for the Pride.
Kalifa Faifai Loa has also been called up by the Cowboys to replace Brent Tate, so Davin Crampton moves onto the wing and Rod Jensen slots into the centres.
The good news for Pride fans is that inspirational captain Ty Williams has recovered from a minor knee injury he suffered in the win over Burleigh Bears last weekend and takes his place at five-eighth.
Maddie Oosen has been rewarded for his fine debut last week by keeping his place on the interchange.
For full details of this week’s Intrust Super Cup teams, visit the QRL website.
Don’t forget, you can catch all the action LIVE on the Pride website through our live streaming service – www.northernpride.com.au
NORTHERN PRIDE TEAM v NORTHS DEVILS – Sunday 20 May (3pm KO), Bishop Park
| 1. | Ben FITZPATRICK |
| 2. | Davin CRAMPTON |
| 3. | Brett ANDERSON |
| 4. | Rod JENSEN |
| 5. | Scott GIBSON |
| 6. | Ty WILLIAMS (C) |
| 7. | Ryan GHIETTI |
| 8. | Ben SPINA |
| 9. | Jason ROOS |
| 10. | Alex STARMER |
| 11. | Ethan LOWE |
| 12. | Blake LEARY |
| 13. | Joel RIETHMULLER |
Interchange
| 14. | Jamie FRIZZO |
| 15. | Saia MAKISI |
| 16. | Mark DALLE CORT |
| 19. | Maddie OOSEN |
Opposition Intel: Norths Devils
Opposition Intel: Norths Devils
COLOURS: Sky Blue, Navy Blue and Gold
COACH: Craig Hodges
QLD CUP RECORD: 187W, 11D, 152L
ESTABLISHED: 1924
PREMIERS: 1998
ENTERED QLD CUP: 1996
MOST GAMES: Wade Fenton 114, Kevin Carmichael 107, Marc Brentnall 107, Pat Gardner 81, Troy Hansen 81.
MOST POINTS: John Wilshere 538, Marty Turner 518, Troyden Watene 298, Greg Inglis 194, Cameron Smith 188
MOST TRIES: Steven Bell 45, Kevin Carmichael 45, Daniel Ogden 45, Derek Fletcher 38, Cooper Cronk 37
2012 SIGNINGS: Brendon Gibb (Penrith Panthers), Trevor Exton (Ipswich Jets), Sam Martin (Gold Coast Titans), Steve Darby (Wynnum Manly).
2012 LOSSES: Troyden Watene (Wynnum Manly), Shane Perry (Retired), Eddy Purcell (Redcliffe Dolphins), Javarn White (Titans/Ipswich Jets), Asher Elemani (Retired), James Tutulia (Souths Logan), Kayle Connor (Souths Logan).
STAR MAN: Kurt Baptiste (hooker)
Baptiste, 21, is yet another youngster off the Brisbane Broncos production line. He’s already played five NRL games for the Broncos, and is pushing for more game time after starring for Norths in 2012. Baptiste had a stellar junior career – he played five-eighth for the Australian Schoolboys with the likes of Jamal Idris, Will Hopoate and Ryan James. There is also pedigree in the bloodlines, with his dad Bevan a five-eighth for Brisbane Norths in the late 1970s. Baptiste was recruited from Aspley, the same junior club that produced Brisbane teammates Dale Copley and Josh McGuire. While he plays deep in the engine room, Baptiste is no knucklehead – he’s studying to be an engineer.
LAST 5 MEETINGS:
Aug 11 – Devils 22-32 Pride
May 11 – Pride 24-18 Devils
Sep 10 (Grand Final) – Devils 20-30 Pride
Aug 10 – Pride 33-26 Devils
May 10 – Devils 26-14 Pride
FORM GUIDE (last 5 matches)
DEVILS: WWLLW
PRIDE: LLWWW
OPPOSITION’S LAST MATCH (ROUND 9) – NORTHS DEVILS 32-28 CQ CAPRAS Norths forwards Natthan Cleaver and Kurt Baptiste produced eye catching performances as the Devils held out a fast-finishing Central Queensland Capras to win a thriller in Gladstone 32-28. The Devils led 22-6 at half-time and appeared to be cruising towards an easy win when they added to their tally in the second half. But the Capras thrilled the Gladstone locals with a stunning comeback that closed the gap to four points. The Devils were forced to scramble on their own line to see out the Capras’ charge in a frantic finish to an entertaining tussle. Norths coach Craig Hodges was disappointed with his team’s second half performance, but held high praise for the manner in which the Capras fought their way back into the game. “I was happy with our first half, we were very strong,” Hodges said. “We’ve just got to learn how to put teams away when we get in that position.” NORTHS DEVILS 32 (Daniel Ogden, Sione Lolohea, Namila Davui, Mitchell Frei, Kurt Baptiste, Jarrod Wallace tries; Mitchell Frei 4 goals) def CQ CAPRAS 28 (Reece Baker, Russell Webber, Jonathon Tavinor, Tim Glasby, Ashley Kris tries; Tyron Cranston 4 goals) at Marley Brown Oval, Gladstone.
PULSE PREDICTION:
Norths Devils 14-24 Northern Pride
Pride win at home against Burleigh
The Skill360 Northern Pride completed their home game trifecta with a win against the Burleigh Bears at Barlow Park on Saturday night with the Northern Pride holding out to take the points.
It was a classically bruising encounter between a Pride side looking to maintain the momentum from their last start victory over the ladder leaders and a Bears outfit sitting in last position after six straight defeats.
For their part the Pride were well aware that Burleigh sat in a false position, though in last place they are judged by the Pride to be a big, physical side who deserve to be in the top five. The many fans at Barlow Park who shared this assessment were not disappointed by what was an exciting and epic game at Barlow Park.
The Cairns Post covered the game on Monday with the following report by Andrew Piva:
Pride Tough our Grinding Victory Against Bears
NORTHERN Pride coach David Maiden summed up his side’s 24-22 victory over the Burleigh Bears best with a quote in the post-match press
conference.
“It wasn’t the prettiest, but we got there,” Maiden said after watching his team notch their third win in a row at Barlow Park on Saturday.
The Pride only flirted with the level of football they are capable of during the 80 minutes, but it was still enough to see them earn the competition points against the Bears.
After trailing 12-0 early, the Pride clicked into gear to take an 18-12 lead into the break – thanks to converted tries from Jason Roos, Ty Williams and Scott Gibson.
Gibson’s effort on the stroke of halftime was arguably the highlight of the match for the Pride, and came after a bust and cross-field kick from Williams.
The Pride extend their buffer to 24-12 in the second half after a try by Kalifa Faifai Loa before the Bears launched a comeback that almost saw them snatch the win. Forced to withstand a few nervous minutes late in the game, Maiden said his team could not afford to surrender their dominance so easily.
“We need to be ruthless,’’ he said.
‘‘We had them on the rack there at 24-12 and we took our foot off the pedal.
“And then we were under the pump for the final 10 minutes.
“But it was a physically draining match and credit to the boys for getting the two points.”
Missing the reliable presence of the injured Ben Laity, the Pride forwards gave away a significant size advantage to the Bears, who were boosted by the late inclusions of Bodene Thompson and Matt White. But Maiden said his pack did not retreat from the challenge in front of them.
“We didn’t play as well as we possibly could, and I think everyone knows that, but the fact is the guys toughed it out,” he said.
“When you sort of analyse it, with the inclusion of Matt White and Bodene Thompson into that side, they’ve got a quality forward pack.
“They work really hard and with Darren Griffiths they’ve got some massive size there.
“We basically went in with one specialist front rower, so for the guys to come out with a win against a big, physical side is a credit to them.”
Williams, who was walking with an ice pack strapped to his leg after hyperextending his knee late in the game, said the Pride needed to win after beating ladder leaders Wynnum Manly the previous week.
“It was a danger game for us,’’ he said.
‘‘We knocked the front runners off last week and we could’ve got a bit complacent.’’
“I think we were early on, but we got into our mojo eventually.
“We were still a little bit off the money, but it’s exciting because we’ve won three in a row and we haven’t played our best footy.”
Ends
Final Scoreboard Northern Pride 24 Burleigh Bears 22
Captain Ty Williams picked up the Kennedy’s Retravision Man of the Match award.
Northern Pride - Tries: Kalifa Faifai Loa, Scott Gibson, Ty Williams, Jason Roos Conversions: Cory Paterson 4
Burleigh Bears – Tries: Jamie Dowling, Kurt Sorensen, Bodene Thompson, James Stuart Conversions: Danny Kerr 2, Sam Meskell
Leanne wins Mums In League competition
Leanne Thomas will have an extra special Mother’s Day this weekend after winning the Northern Pride’s annual Mums In League competition.
Leanne has been at the forefront of Atherton Junior Rugby League over the past nine years in her role as secretary, as well more recently as secretary of Eacham Junior Rugby League and first aid officer for Atherton Seniors.
The talented mum also holds a referees ticket, as well as being a Level 1 coach.
Atherton Junior Rugby League President Alan Poggioli said Leanne fully deserved the recognition.
“She is always the first one to training, organising and getting things ready, and most times she’s the last one to leave,” he said.
“She washes jerseys, works in the kitchen and pretty much does anything that needs to be done around our club.
“Everyone at Atherton Juniors want Leanne to know how much we appreciate all the hard work she does for us.
“She really is the heart and soul of our club.”
Northern Pride Chief Executive Officer Chris Sheppard said Leanne embodied everything about the Mums In League competition.
“Many of our footy mums are the unsung heroes of their teams, clubs and leagues, contributing a vital number of different roles, as well as supporting their own playing sons and daughters,” he said.
“These roles include coaching and managing teams, administration, first aid, running kiosks, washing jerseys and ferrying players to and from games.
“The Pride is keen to acknowledge the roles that mums play in our great game, and we had some outstanding entries this year.
“Congratulations to Leanne and all the mums nominated.”
Leanne wins a Pride gift package, including grandstand tickets to the Pride’s Intrust Super Cup game against Burleigh Bears tomorrow (Saturday) night at Barlow Park.
PRIDE INSIDER: Brett Anderson
Northern Pride centre Brett Anderson writes a weekly column for the Cairns Post:
Hi everyone,
I’m really looking forward to writing this column each week in the Post, giving you a glimpse inside the Northern Pride changing room, and what it means as a local Innisfail boy to not only have played at NRL level, but also now the pride I experience playing for the region’s Intrust Super Cup footy side.
I grew up in Innisfail with aspirations like every young footy player, and I feel so fortunate to have played in the NRL. In saying that I feel just as much satisfaction to run out on the paddock with other locally-grown players and do our best for FNQ.
The boys are still buzzing after our great win over Wynnum Manly last Saturday. I thought we really played as a team, something we haven’t done well so far this season, and our defence was first class. It was a nice moment to become the first side to beat the reigning premiers this year.
Sadly, the only downer was the sternum injury to Ben Laity, which means the big man will now miss his first Intrust Super Cup match through injury in almost eight years – an amazing achievement. Benno will be a big loss and he was gutted in the sheds after the game. However coming back into the side to replace him will be big Mark Dalle Cort, who has a lot of Super League and Queensland Cup experience and has played extremely well for us this year when given his opportunity.
We’re determined to not waste all our efforts against the Burleigh Bears this Saturday, especially in front of our home fans. After four losses, we’ve now won two on the trot, and we’re starting to play like we know we can. I’ve been fortunate to score a few tries this season, but I’d be happy to watch the other boys run them in if it meant we kept our unbeaten run going.
So, come down to Barlow Park if you can and cheer us on – your support really does make a difference. And if you can’t make it, don’t forget you can always watch the game live through our online streaming service at www.northernpride.com.au
If you have a question for me, just email the Post sports desk at sport@tcp.newsltd.com.au, and I’ll try and answer one each week.
Until next week,
Cheers, Ando
© THE CAIRNS POST
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