Match Northern Pride v Townsville Blackhawks trial - 23 February 2019

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February 23 INTRUST SUPER CUP
Northern Pride v Townsville Blackhawks
Alley Park, Gordonvale 6.00pm

 

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Televised Intrust Super Cup matches return to the fan-friendly Sunday afternoon slot in 2019 as the QRL today confirmed the broadcast schedule for the opening seven rounds.
The Round 1 clash between last year’s semi-finalists – the Ipswich Jets and Townsville Blackhawks – opens Channel Nine’s Sunday afternoon coverage of Queensland’s premier statewide competition at 12.10pm on Sunday 10 March, followed by the Tweed Head Seagulls and the Townsville Blackhawks again in Round 2.

https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2019/02/15/qrl-confirms-intrust-super-cup-broadcast-schedule/

 

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https://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/hancock-to-lead-northern-pride-into-clubs-final-trial/

Hancock to lead Northern Pride into club’s final trial
Matthew McInerney, The Cairns Post, February 21, 2019.

IT will be out of the weight room and on to the field for second-rower Tom Hancock and his Northern Pride teammates when the Intrust Super Cup side plays its final trial at Gordonvale tomorrow.

The pre-season clash with Townsville Blackhawks will be the first time Hancock takes the field as co-captain, a role to which he and forward Dave Murphy were promoted in the off-season. Ty Williams will announce his line-up for the trial at a press conference this morning, where under-18s and under-20s teams will also be revealed.

A tight win against the Cairns Foley Shield team last week provided the Pride’s fringe players a chance to stake their claim at an Intrust Super Cup start, but with just two weeks until the season opener against premiers Redcliffe, Williams is expected to roll out a near full strength side for their last trial.

Many eyes will be on front-rower Will Bugden, a bustling forward expected to lead the pack into battle this year.

The Pride face off with the Blackhawks at Gordonvale’s Alley Park tomorrow. The under-18s will kick off at 2.30pm, with the under-20s from 4.15pm. The Intrust Super Cup trial starts at 6pm.

 

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https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2019/02/21/gains-and-losses-for-2019-northern-pride/

Gains and Losses for 2019: Northern Pride
QRL Media, Thu 21 Feb 2019

Northern Pride are excited for the 2019 Intrust Super Cup season to start, having signed some super talented players to help with their campaign.
After losing experienced captain Ryan Ghietti, gun Brett Anderson, and star forward Darryn Schonig, coach Ty Williams was determined to find players who were the right “fit” for the club, to help the top tier side finish at the top end of the ladder again.
Pride have since locked in experienced utility Maurice Blair, who has spent time at NRL clubs Penrith Panthers, Gold Coast Titans and Melbourne Storm during his football career; he aims to help mentor younger players at the club and “give back to the game that gave him so much”.
Pride have also promoted a bunch of talented under-20 players to their Intrust Super Cup squad, and signed skilful brothers Cameron Torpy, from Cantebury Bulldogs, and Brayden Torpy, from Easts Tigers.

GAINS:

• Maurice Blair (Hull Kingston Rovers)
• Evan Child (Northern Pride U20s)
• Steven Tatipata (Northern Pride U20s)
• Matolu Laumea (Innisfail Leprechauns)
• Hugh Sedger
• Denzel King (Ipswich Jets)
• Dominic Biondi (Norths Devils)
• Cameron Torpy (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Brayden Torpy (Easts Tigers)

LOSSES:

• Ryan Ghietti (Retired)
• Brett Anderson (Retired)
• Troy Kapea (Retired)
• Nathan Wales (Retired)
• Graham Clark (Retired)
• Justin Castellaro (Retired)
• Sheldon Powe-Hobbs (Retired)
• Keelan White (Released)
• Jonico Hardwick (Rugby Union)
• Darryn Schonig (Sunshine Coast Falcons)

 

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I'm a bit disappointed that Darryn Schonig has left. Looks like he has heaps of potential. He's in the Storm squad for tonights trial v Warriors.
Another player I'm keen to see more of this year is Bacho Salam, centre for Blackhawks.

 

[Minto]

1 TRAILL, Nathan
2 CARROLL, Michael
3 DODD, Levi
4 SALAM, Bacho
5 McCAGH, Thomas
6 MARTIN-SAVAGE, Samuel
7 NONA, Shaun
22 LOUSI, Sione
9 MURPHY, Sam
10 BEASLEY, Daniel
11 MAUGHAN, Cody
12 LLOYD, Ryan
13 QUABBA, Kieran

14 COOK, Adam
15 DUFFY, Campbell
16 KOROSTCHUK, Chippie
8 STEPHENS, Jayden
17 CONDON, Ben
19 BELL, Michael

Coach: Aaron Payne

Teams Named for Trial Games for This Weekend - Mendi Townsville & Districts Blackhawks RFLC

BLACKHAWKS MEDIA Townsville & Districts Mendi Blackhawks have named their 3 teams for this Saturdays trial games in Cairns. ISC...

blackhawkstsv.com.au

None of our NRL squad involved but I'm pretty sure a couple of the U20s players (Murphy, Cook, Condon, Bell) are contracted to us.

 

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Northern Pride
(Trial against Mendi Townsville Blackhawks, Saturday, February 23, Alley Park, Gordonvale 6.00 pm)

1. Jack Murphy
2. Steven Tatipata
3. Shawn Bowen
4. Bradley Stephen
5. Matthew Musemeci
6. Evan Child
7. Jordon Biondi-Odo
8. Aiden Day
9. Connor Jones
10. William Bugden
11. Hugh Sedger
12. Tom Hancock
13. Dave Murphy

14. Denzel King
15. Cameron Torpy
16. Matthew Lauema
17. Jack Campagnolo
18. Maurice Blair
19.
20.

Coach: Ty Williams

 

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Full Time
Northern Pride 28-10 Townsville & Districts Mendi Blackhawks

 

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Pride’s trial triumph built on defensive effort
Rowan Sparkes
Cairns Post
24 February 2019.

The Northern Pride has produced a strong defensive performance to defeat southern rivals Townsville Blackhawks 28-10 in their final trial match at Gordonvale’s Alley Park on Saturday night.

Coach Ty Williams said he was impressed with his team’s attitude and effort in defence on the night, which had been a focus for the team during their pre-season training. “Defensively, it’s an attitude thing,” he said. “A couple of times they (the Blackhawks) split us, but we had Evan (Child) cover across in the first quarter and then Connor (Jones) get back and pick up the ball in the in-goal in the fourth quarter, so our attitude to do that was something that stood out. It’s something that we’ve been talking about — attitude to details — and the boys did it really well there.”

Williams thought the way the Pride transitioned between attack and defence was really good. “We caught and dragged them pretty well there,” he said. “Across the board, it’s something we’ve worked really hard on. We’ll continue to work on our attacking structures more as the season goes on and as we go up against quality opponents.”

The Pride welcomed back big boppers Will Bugden and co-captains Tom Hancock and David Murphy for the trial, but former Southern Suburbs junior Aidan Day was the standout of the forward pack, relishing a return to Alley Park.

“Aidan was outstanding,” Williams said. “That’s his second solid hitout. It was his home ground so he obviously wanted to perform well, but he got 65 minutes out for a front rower, which was really good. He was probably our best on ground.”

Williams said new recruits Denzel King and Cameron Torpy both had an impact off the bench. “(Denzel) came on and was really explosive through the middle,” Williams said. “He gives us that X-factor: he picks up the footy and just plays what’s in front. Cameron Torpy is coming back from six months out of the game. It was his second good hitout after last weekend’s trial, so we’re really happy with where he’s at.”

Trial Results
Intrust Super Cup Pride 28 def Blackhawks 10
Under-20s Blackhawks 22 def Pride 14
Under-18s Blackhawks 50 def Pride 4

 

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Blackhawks take positives from Pride trial
Michael Thompson
Townsville Bulletin
24 February 2019.

THE result did not go their way, but Townsville Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne is not hitting the panic button. The Blackhawks were beaten 28-10 by the Northern Pride in Gordonvale on Saturday, with the Pride’s simple but effective brand of football rolling over a Blackhawks team that failed to complete less than a third of its sets.

Payne played a 19-man squad featuring a blend of experience and youth, which struggled to make inroads against a Pride team that also fielded younger players.

“It was never about the score, but there were a lot of areas that we were disappointing,” Payne said “It was a trial game and grand finals aren’t won this time of the year. We had a pretty young and inexperienced side. It’ll be pretty much a whole different team next week for our main trial heading into round one. The things that we really need to work on is our ball control. Just the timing was out with a lot of what we did, but they’re easy fixes.”
The Blackhawks, like the Cowboys, were hit hard by the region’s weather event and missed three weeks of training in the lead-up to Saturday’s trial. Payne himself was left cut off at his Alice River property for almost week at the height of the inundation.

“You take those things into consideration. We’re probably not where we want to be right now but there’s no panic stations just yet,” Payne said. “I thought young Bacho Salam — who’s a local guy — he was really good defensively in the centres. Sammy Martin-Savage and Nathan Traill competed all night and as a coach that’s what you love about them.”

Pride coach Ty Williams said he was impressed with his team’s defence. “A couple of times they (the Blackhawks) split us, but we had Evan (Child) cover across in the first quarter and then Connor (Jones) get back and pick up the ball in the in-goal in the fourth quarter, so our attitude to do that was something that stood out,” he said. “It’s something that we’ve been talking about — attitude to details — and the boys did it really well there.”
Payne was also left impressed by the Pride, who like the Blackhawks were knocked out in the first week of last season’s Q Cup finals. “I thought they played quite well. Their completion rate was high. They played a simple game of footy but they played it well and that was probably the difference,” he said.

 

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Five things we learned from Northern Pride’s first trial
Matthew McInerney
Cairns Post
February 24, 2019

NORTHERN Pride coach Ty Williams will have a few tough decisions to make with less than two weeks before the Intrust Super Cup season starts. His side overcame a slow start to beat Townsville Blackhawks 28-10. Here’s five things we learned from the trial:

1. Halves Evan Child and Jordan Biondi-Ono were given the keys to the Pride and, while they improved with time, the shaky start was worrisome. Pride were twice caught on the fifth tackle, coughing up possession and cheap field position to a hungry Townsville team. There has to be clearer communication from the outset to avoid disaster.

2. Breaks can be a godsend, particularly in trial games.
Townsville were the better side for much of the opening quarter, but thankfully for the Pride, the 20-minute terms made things easier to settle down the players. They came out a better, more focused team, and controlled the majority of the remaining hour.

3. This team can defend.
The Pride’s attack struggled to get out of first gear but there was no doubting the side’s defensive effort. The right edge allowed a soft try for the Blackhawks to open their account, but they muscled up and got the job done.

4. Sione Lousi was the Blackhawks’ go-to man in the engine room but they can’t depend on the former Tonga international to do everything. The former Warriors forward, who signed for Townsville at the end or 2016, was kept extremely busy. He’ll see plenty of ball but he needs support.

5. Maurice Blair showed glimpses of what he can do.
The high-profile recruit looked solid in his first game as a Northern Pride player. It’s been a while since he’s played a game, but if he stays fit the former Hull Kingston Rovers utility could be a difference maker.

 

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Former NRL star “a class above” in Pride pre-season trial
Rowan Sparkes
Cairns Post
25 February 2019

Former NRL and Super League player Maurice “Bobby” Blair has earned praise from coach Ty Williams in his first hitout wearing the Northern Pride colours.

The 34-year-old came off the bench in Saturday night’s trial match against Townsville Blackhawks at Alley Park and played out a solid 40-minute stint in the back row.

“There were a couple of touches he had there that really shone for us,” said Williams. “I thought he was a class above at times — really, really good.
“It’s an exciting time for us, especially on that edge with the young guys out there.”

A versatile talent, Blair has played portions of his 200-plus game career at five-eighth and left centre, as well as in the second row. He played for Penrith, Melbourne and Gold Coast from 2007-2014 in the NRL before making the move to England where he spent four seasons with Hull KR and played more than 100 games for the Yorkshire-based club. In 2016, Blair was named Hull KR’s Player of the Year.