Cairns rugby league: Pride young gun rising to the Challenge
Northern Pride prop Ricky Wardle is not letting the COVID-affected season slow him down.
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Northern Pride prop Ricky Wardle is not letting the COVID-affected season slow him down.
The under-20s front-row forward made sure to have an impact in his first game of rugby league since March last weekend, featuring in the Northern Pride Reef Kings’ 30-22 win over Brothers Cairns in the opening round of the Lightning Challenge.
He will come off the bench for the Pride Giants this weekend, playing alongside Intrust Super Cup props Lata Fakalelu and Brad Lupi.
Pride Reef Kings coach Dave Scott said Wardle’s game had come a long way in the past 12 months, and playing alongside the experienced forward pack would only help the teenager take it to another level.
“Since the pre-season, he’s developing confidence and aggression, which he didn’t demonstrate when he came up to the 20s last year,” Scott said.
Wardle was one of the 11 under-18s players promoted to the under-20s squad midway through last season.
“There were only two boys that didn’t play and he was one of them because he lacked that bit of confidence,” Scott said.
“Since then, I think he’s realised that he’s quite athletic and he really has a crack now.
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“He demonstrated it in the trial games, he demonstrated it in the first game of the season (before COVID). And then against Brothers, which is his junior club, he showed good, controlled aggression.
“He’s developing as a young forward. He’s mobile, he’s fit and he generates power into contact with his leg speed.”
The second round of the Lightning Challenge will be held at Stan Williams Park this Saturday. The Reef Kings will face Tully Tigers at 2pm, before the Giants take on Brothers Cairns at 4pm.
NORTHERN PRIDE TEAM LISTS — ROUND 2
■Northern Pride Reef Kings:
1. Mark Rosendale, 2. Sireli Raivaroro, 3. Rhy Young, 4. Dallas Skardon, 5. Samisoni Raivaroro, 6. Evan Child, 7. Quinlyn Cannon, 8. Tyson Phineasa, 9. Denzel King, 10. Jonah Rameka, 11. Ewan Moore, 12. Tom McGrath, 13. Jacob McCarthy. Interchange: 14. Patrick Gallen, 15. Colt Salmond, 16. Sterling Addo-Nona, 17. Kurt Jackson, 18. Matthew Whybird. Coach: Dave Scott
■ Northern Pride Giants:
1. Dmitri Ahwang, 2. Matthew Musumeci, 3. Aiden Kawiri, 4. Bernard Lewis, 5. Gideon Gela-Mosby, 6. Jack Campagnolo, 7. Matthew Egan, 8. Lata Fakalelu, 9. Chris Ostwald, 10. Brad Lupi, 11. Josh Stuckey, 12. Heilum Luki, 13. Terrence Casey-Douglas. Interchange: 14. Adam Hepworth, 15. Joe Eichner, 16. Whyatt Barnes, 17. Usaia Fonongaloa, 18. Ricky Wardle. Coach: Bevan Walker.
Originally published as Cairns rugby league: Pride young gun rising to the Challenge