CDRL trio take chance with Pride in coronavirus-affected season
Three Cairns and District Rugby League players have put their hands up for a crack in the Northern Pride jersey.
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Three Cairns and District Rugby League players have put their hands up for a crack in the Northern Pride jersey.
Mareeba prop Kurt Jackson and Ivanhoe duo Rhy Young and Wyatt Barnes will play for the Intrust Super Cup club in the Lightning Challenge.
With their regular CDRL clubs opting out of any on-field activities this season, due to the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the trio have been given a rare opportunity as they look to push their case for a contract with the Queensland Rugby League club.
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Young and Barnes have both been part of the Pride set-up before, as members of the club’s junior development squads prior to the Hastings Deering Colts competition’s establishment in 2018, while Jackson has been one of the Gladiators’ most consistent A-grade players over the last five CDRL seasons.
Pride coach Ty Williams said he expected the trio to make the most of the opportunity.
“Wyatt came through the 16s, 18s and 20s when it was the shortened season,” he said.
“He didn’t drop out of the game, he just wasn’t in our system, but now it’s a good opportunity for him to showcase his skills.
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“We have kept a close eye on him and I’m glad that he put his hand up to play over this period. He’s trained really well — all three have — which is good to see.
“I think they’ll find, and this is no disrespect to who they’ve played with, but they’ll find the games they’re playing a lot easier, just due to the fact that the guys know what they’re doing and they know solely what their job is.
“And that’s what I said to all three of them — they’ve just got to do their job and do it to the best of their ability.”
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Young will line up at centre for the Pride Reef Kings, with Jackson to come off the bench, while Barnes has been named as 18th man for the Pride Giants.
Williams reached out to non-participating CDRL clubs last month, asking them to put forward names of players who they believed should be part of the Pride system.
“At least we’ve created an avenue and a pathway to give them an opportunity,” he said.
Northern Pride Reef Kings
1. Mark Rosendale, 2. Jayson Mura, 3. Tyreyce Chambers, 4. Rhy Young, 5. Shaun Stephens, 6. Sterling Addo, 7. Evan Child, 8. Jonah Rameka, 9. Denzel King, 10. Ricky Wardle, 11. Matti Moyle, 12. Ewan Moore, 13. Terrence Casey-Douglas. Interchange: 14. Zane Knowles, 15. Luke Erbacher, 16. Kurt Jackson, 17. Daniel Lazarus, 18. Quinlyn Cannon. Coach: Dave Scott.
Northern Pride Giants
1. Matthew Musumeci, 2. Gideon Gela-Mosby, 3. Aiden Kawiri-Kusu, 4. Bernard Lewis, 5. Kyle Wyatt, 6. Jack Campagnolo, 7. Matthew Egan, 8. Brad Lupi, 9. Chris Ostwald, 10. Tyson Phineasa, 11. Josh Stuckey, 12. Heilum Luki, 13. Joe Eichner. Interchange: 14. Adam Hepworth, 15. Colt Salmond, 16. Dmitri Ahwang, 17. Jacob McCarthy, 18. Wyatt Barnes. Coach: Bevan Walker
Originally published as CDRL trio take chance with Pride in coronavirus-affected season