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TY TIME: Let’s not waste our Seagulls win
Northern Pride captain Ty Williams speaks to www.northernpride.com.au every week through his Ty Time column:
There’s been a brilliant atmosphere around the club this week after we became the first side this season to beat reigning premiers Wynnum Manly. Barlow Park was buzzing on Saturday night, and I’m very proud of the boys for the team effort they put in to help us get across the line in a tight 20-18 win.
We’re still not playing at our very best, but I thought we should’ve beaten the Seagulls by more, especially after we bombed a couple of tries. I don’t like singling anyone out in a great team display, but a special mention needs to go to Ben Laity. The big man re-injured his sternum in the first minute, but pushed past the pain barrier to help us get the win we deserved. It now looks like he’ll miss his first Intrust Super Cup game through injury in four years, which is tough for Benno, but it’s the kind of passion and commitment that will help us get back up the ladder.
We’ve got another big home game this weekend, this time against Burleigh Bears. It would be a complete waste if we undid all our good work and let ourselves down against the Bears. There are still areas we can improve on, and I’m confident the boys will have their minds right for Saturday. If you can, come down to Barlow Park to support us – we’d love to have you there to cheer us on and help us get our third straight win.
I also had a great time last weekend coaching the Under 15s Northern Peninsula team in the State Championships in Toowoomba. We finished ninth overall, which was a fantastic achievement. Also congratulations to Pride Academy player Bernard Lewis, who was named in the Queensland White team after his strong performances. Well done Bernard!
Finally, congratulations must also go to all the award winners at the Pride Academy presentation night. We’ve certainly got some exciting prospects at the club.
See you at Barlow Park on Saturday, or remember, you can always watch the game live on the internet – just visit www.northernpride.com.au for details on our live stream.
Until next time,
Cheers, Ty
Round 9 team v Burleigh Bears
Laity will miss his first game through injury in almost 8 years
Northern Pride coach Dave Maiden has confirmed that prop Ben Laity‘s 7½ year streak (3 years Easts and 4½ Years Northern Pride) of not missing a game through injury has been broken.
The 28-year-old suffered a recurrence of a painful sternum injury in the 1st minute of the Pride’s epic win over Wynnum Manly last weekend.
“He will miss this Saturday’s Round 9 clash against Burleigh Bears at Barlow Park and I expect him to be out for several weeks,” said Maido.
Alex Starmer is in the starting 13, with Mark Dalle Cort coming on to the interchange bench.
For full details of this week’s Intrust Super Cup teams, visit the QRL website.
This week’s curtain raiser is the CDJRL Round 5 Under 16s match between Kangaroos and Tully kicking off at 3.45pm, with the Intrust Super Cup game kicking off at 5.30pm.
Bring Mum along and put your name in the box at the gate to go into the draw to be part of the half-time competition and win a great prize for Mum!
All junior players have free entry on presentation of their Cowboys NRL Junior Players Pass.
If you can’t make it to Barlow Park, you can still catch all the action LIVE on the Pride website – www.northernpride.com.au
NORTHERN PRIDE TEAM v BURLEIGH BEARS – Saturday 12 May (5.30pm KO)
| 1. | Ben FITZPATRICK |
| 2. | Kalifa FAIFAI LOA |
| 3. | Brett ANDERSON |
| 4. | Davin CRAMPTON |
| 5. | Scott GIBSON |
| 6. | Ty WILLIAMS (C) |
| 7. | Ryan GHIETTI |
| 8. | Alex STARMER |
| 9. | Jason ROOS |
| 10. | Scott BOLTON |
| 11. | Ethan LOWE |
| 12. | Ben SPINA |
| 13. | Joel RIETHMULLER |
Interchange
| 14. | Blake LEARY |
| 15. | Jamie FRIZZO |
| 16. | Cory PATERSON |
| 17. | Mark DALLE CORT |
Opposition Intel: Burleigh Bears
Burleigh Bears
COLOURS: Maroon and White
COACH: Paul Bramley
QLD CUP RECORD: 203W, 14D, 118L
ESTABLISHED: 1934
PREMIERS (Cup): 1999, 2004
ENTERED QLD CUP: 1997
MOST GAMES: Shane O’Flanagan 201, Ali Brown 160, Ryan Gundry 139, Robert Apanui 135,Grant Adamson 128.
MOST POINTS: Reggie Cressbrook 964, Nick Parfitt 761, Greg Bourke 486, Trent Purdon 276, Aseri Laing 264
MOST TRIES: Reggie Cressbrook 69, Trent Purdon 69, Aseri Laing 66, Nick Shaw 61, Aaron Douglas 59.
2012 SIGNINGS: James Stuart (Canberra Raiders), Michael Brophy (Tuggeranong), Chris Medcalf (Canberra Raiders), Matt Britt (Redcliffe Dolphins), Darren Griffiths (Mackay Cutters), Todd Seymour (Mackay Cutters), Tyron Haynes (Central Comets), Sam Saville (Gold Coast Titans).
2012 LOSSES: Scott Smith (Released), Jimmy Andersen (Released), Nick Parfitt (Retired), Robert Apanui (Retired), Liam McDonald (Easts Tigers), Josh White (Released), Daniel Joyce (Released), James Cameron (Released), Richie Williams (Released), Clinton Toopi (Retired).
STAR MAN: Steve Michaels (centre)
The son of Ralph Michaels, a centre for Brisbane Norths in the 1970s, Steve is a veteran of almost 100 NRL games with the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans. The centre has shown electrifying form for the Burleigh Bears as he bids to reclaim his Titans starting spot, and scored two tries against CQ Capras in the last round of the Intrust Super Cup.
LAST 5 MEETINGS:
Jul 11 – Pride 25-25 Bears
Apr 11 – Bears 6-30 Pride
Aug 10 – Bears 6-54 Pride
May 10 – Pride 20-6 Bears
Jul 09 – Pride 18-30 Bears
FORM GUIDE (last 5 matches)
PRIDE: LLLWW
BEARS: LLLLL
OPPOSITION’S LAST MATCH (ROUND 
– CQ CAPRAS 25-22 BURLEIGH BEARS:
CQ Capras overcame an early Burleigh try and a sensational two-try display by Broncos and Titans NRL veteran Steve Michaels to edge the Bears at Browne Park. Bears prop Brenton Lawrence scored early on and Dan Kerr also crossed to help the visitors to a 22-12 half-time lead, but the Capras came home strongly on the back of the searing pace of Ashley Kris, who notched a double. CQ CAPRAS 25 (Ashley Kris 2, Alan Rothery, Cheyenne Motu tries; Tyron Cranston 4 goals; Cheyenne Motu 1 drop goal) def BURLEIGH BEARS 22 (Steve Michaels 2, Brenton Lawrence, Dan Kerr tries; Dan Kerr 3 goals) at Browne Park.
Laity injury takes shine off Pride win
BEN Laity’s streak of 104 games for the Northern Pride looks to be over after the prop suffered a sternum injury during his side’s 20-18 victory over Wynnum Manly at Barlow Park on Saturday night.
Laity carried the problem into the match, but Pride coach David Maiden said the 28-year-old would now likely need time on the sideline to heal.
“He got bumped the first run he did and it looks like he’s done a proper job on it,” Maiden said.
“The sternum is a very painful injury. You can’t sleep on your side and you can’t sleep on your back.
“He’s done a pretty good effort just to get on the paddock.
“He’s tough, but I think the 104-game streak may have come to an end.”
Laity’s injury was the only bad news to come out of the game for the Pride, who
became the first team to beat the Seagulls this season.
The victory, however, didn’t come easy, with the Seagulls almost snatching the points in the 77th minute.
Seagulls centre Dan Wallace charged into the in-goal and appeared certain to score but failed to ground the ball due to the attention of Pride second-rower Ethan Lowe.
The match-winning play had Maiden singing the praises of his workhouse forward
after the game.
“It’s all about that attitude. Attitude makes a difference and he just didn’t want them scoring a try,” Maiden said of Lowe.
“He chased and knocked the ball out of his hands.
‘‘That’s the stuff we need if we want to win the comp.”
After an unimpressive start to 2012, the Pride turned in arguably their best performance of the season against the Seagulls. The home side outscored the visitors four tries to three and were especially effective in the middle of the park.
All the forwards aimed up against the Seagulls big pack, with hooker Jason Roos making 50 tackles for the second consecutive week.
While delighted with his team’s display against the ladder leaders, Maiden said the Pride were still to hit their straps.
“We’ve got plenty of improvement in us and that’s the pleasing thing,” he said.
“I’ve always said all along that we’ve got a side that can win this competition. We can match it with anyone. I still maintain that and will always maintain that.
“It’s important for us to start playing like that. We’re gradually getting there and
it’s something that’s not going to happen overnight, but we’re gradually laying a
platform.”
Pride captain Ty Williams, who raced 30m to score a brilliant individual try in the first half, said his team needed to be just as committed when they host Burleigh Bears this week.
“The big thing now is that we don’t get complacent,” he said.
“We knocked off the front runners, but next week we’ve got Burleigh and we’ve got to turn it up another notch.”
Webb stars at Academy presentation night
Under 18s Sea Swift Best & Fairest Award Winner PJ Webb (centre) accepts his award from Northern Pride Head Coach Dave Maiden (left) and Under 18s Coach Michael White (right).
Northern Pride Under 18s captain PJ Webb claimed the Cairns District Rugby League Excellence Award and Sea Swift Under 18s Best & Fairest at the Pride’s Academy presentation night at Barlow Park on Saturday.
Jayden Gil claimed the Sea Swift Under 16′s Best & Fairest.
Congratulations to all the award winners, and all Academy players for their efforts this season.
Under 16s
Sea Swift Best & Fairest - Jayden Gil
Cairns Hardware Best Back – Gideon Gela
Skytrans Best Forward – Daniel Tatipata
Tropic Wings Most Improved – William Gibas
Under 18s
Sea Swift Best & Fairest – PJ Webb
Cairns Hardware Best Back – Zac Parter
Skytrans Best Forward – Keelan White
GATA Plastering Most Improved – Josateki Murray
Cairns District Rugby League Excellence Award – PJ Webb
PRIDE TV: Pride v Seagulls – post-match press conference
Northern Pride captain Ty Williams and coach Dave Maiden speak to the media after the Pride’s epic 20-18 win over reigning premiers Wynnum-Manly Seagulls at Barlow Park on Saturday night.
Pride edge epic clash against Seagulls
Ty Williams and coach Dave Maiden at the post-match press conference
Northern Pride inflicted a first loss of the season on reigning Intrust Super Cup premiers Wynnum Manly Seagulls with an epic 20-18 win at Barlow Park tonight.
The Pride struggled to find their rhythm until the last quarter of the game, with the Seagulls leading 18-10 with 19 minutes remaining.
But the Pride hit back in style, with tries from Blake Leary and Scott Bolton securing a memorable victory.
The Pride had started in perfect fashion, with NQ Cowboys NRL star Kalifa Fai Fai Loa taking a Ty Williams bomb to open the scoring in the fourth minute.
But the Seagulls showed their class when centre Dan Wallace crossed in the eighth minute, and halfback Matt Seamark converted and then landed a penalty goal.
By this stage, the Pride were struggling to hold onto the ball, with Ryan Ghietti spilling the pill with the line at his mercy after a Brett Anderson break.
Seagulls winger Junior Tongia then extended the away side’s lead in the 35th minute, but the game was soon lit up by a moment of brilliance by Pride captain Ty Williams.
The former Queensland State of Origin star danced his way through the Seagulls defence from 35 metres after a superb Alex Starmer offload to score a brilliant solo try.
The Seagulls extended their half-time lead when young gun Jake Granville went straight through a gap from dummy half and Seamark converted for an 18-10 lead in the 57th minute.
But the Pride were not to be denied, and spurred on by a buzzing Barlow Park, Leary and Bolton crossed with Cory Paterson nailing the nervy conversion to edge the Pride in front.
The drama was not over as Seagulls centre Jason Moon burst over the try line with three minutes left on the clock, but he was adjudged to have lost control as he tried to put the ball down under pressure from Ethan Lowe, and the game was over.
NORTHERN PRIDE 20 (Tries: Fai Fai Loa, Williams, Leary, Bolton. Conv: Lowe 1 out of 3, Paterson 1 out of 1) WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 18 (Tries: Wallace, Tongia, Granville. Conv: Seamark 2 out of 3. Pens: Seamark 1 out of 1).
Pride’s best young talent celebrate Academy awards
Potential NRL stars of the future will be recognised when Northern Pride’s best young talent comes together for the club’s Academy presentation tonight (Saturday).
The presentation evening will be held from 7.20pm in the corporate area following the Pride’s Intrust Super Cup clash against Wynnum Manly.
Pride CEO Chris Sheppard will begin proceedings with a welcome address before the ceremony gets under way with the following awards:
Under 16s
Tropic Wings Most Improved
Cairns Hardware Best Back
Skytrans Best Forward
Sea Swift Best & Fairest
Under 18s
Gata Plastering Most Improved
Cairns Hardware Best Back
Skytrans Best Forward
Sea Swift Best & Fairest
There will also be an address by Cairns District Rugby League (CDRL) Chairman Colin Moore, and the presentation of the CDRL Excellence Award.
“The Pride Academy players have been outstanding once again, with special note for the Under 18s for making the last four of the Mal Meninga Cup,” said Sheppard.
Support the Pride against unbeaten premiers
Northern Pride is calling on any rugby league fans in the Cairns region to get down to Barlow Park on Saturday, when a massive footy day is headlined by the Pride’s blockbuster clash against unbeaten premiers Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
At 5.30pm, the Pride will attempt to become the first side in 2012 to beat the Seagulls, in what is a mouth-watering clash between two of Intrust Super Cup’s most powerful sides.
As a special treat for local footy fans, there will also be rugby league from 2.30pm, when Pride Under 18s take on the Peninsula side, coached by Pride star Chey Bird.
This match will be followed by a North Queensland Women’s Championship clash between Townsville and Cape United, which kicks off at 3.45pm – and in more great news, that match will be streamed live on Pride’s website as a build-up to the big Intrust Super Cup game later on.
Northern Pride Chief Executive Officer Chris Sheppard said: “This is the biggest day of rugby league in far north Queensland this year, and we’d love as many people as possible to come down for a great family day.
“We’ve got two great footy games before the big one at 5.30pm, when we’ll all be cheering on the boys to see if they can be the first team to end Wynnum Manly’s amazing start to the season.
“Throughout the day, we’ve got competitions, some mini team games, and an awesome cheerleaders performance to look forward to – it’s going to be a fantastic occasion.
“If anyone can’t make it to Barlow Park, then the Pride is also leading the way in bringing the games to your homes.”
In a first for any Intrust Super Cup side, Pride will be live streaming the women’s clash, and then providing full coverage of Pride taking on the Seagulls, including commentary with pre-match build-up, and half-time and full-time analysis and interviews.
For more details on how to watch the game live, visit www.northernpride.com.au/access-options
Charity partner for this Saturday’s match is the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
Maiden sticks to Starmer
PROP Alex Starmer has been rewarded for his barnstorming performance off the bench last week with a spot in the starting line-up for Saturday night 2012 Queensland Cup clash against ladder leaders Wynnum Manly at Barlow Park.
Starmer was one of the best contributors in the Pride’s 26-12 victory over the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles, leaving coach David Maiden little option but to elevate him to the 13.
“Last week he had a high work rate and there was a lot of quality about his performance. I simply could not, not pick him,” Maiden said. He gave us some solid minutes and really tightened up the core. We needed him a few weeks ago but he had that rib injury. He seems to be over that now, though.”
The Pride need everybody on deck for the Seagulls, who have looked every inch the defending premiers this season.
The Seagulls are the only unbeaten team in the competition after seven rounds and won a top-of-the-table clash against Redcliffe 20-12 last week.
The Pride’s form has been patchy at best, but Maiden believes the prospect of playing the Seagulls will bring out the best in his team.
“They’ve got a tremendous amount of professional pride and like to test themselves against the best and there’s no better opportunity than against Wynnum on Saturday,” he said.
“We’ve been through a slump, but I thought the boys played really tough last week and that we started doing things that we haven’t been doing the past month. “We’re still building cohesion, but I’ve been able to name the same side for consecutive games for the first time this year, which is a big help.”
Maiden, however, said the Pride would have to cut their error rate significantly to threaten the Seagulls. “They’re a team that relies on you making errors,’’ he said. We made too many last week. This week we’re going to have a target that we think is an acceptable level.”
“We’ve also got to slow their big men. They like to roll down the paddock, but I’m confident we have a pack that’s able to match that firepower.”
NORTHERN PRIDE
1. Ben FITZPATRICK, 2. Scott GIBSON, 3. Brett ANDERSON, 4.Rod JENSEN, 5. Davin CRAMPTON, 6. Ty WILLIAMS (C), 7. Ryan GHIETTI, 8. Alex STARMER, 9. Jason ROOS, 10. Ben LAITY,11.Ethan LOWE, 12. Ben SPINA, 13. Joel RIETHMULLER, 14.Blake LEARY, 15. Jamie FRIZZO, 16. Cory PATERSON, 17. Mark DALLE CORT
V 