CDRL, Northern Pride: Lightning Challenge draw revealed
The draw for the 2020 Lightning Challenge has been confirmed, with the unique rugby league series to feature blockbuster clashes between new and old rivals and six straight Saturdays of double headers. View the full draw.
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The draw for the 2020 Lightning Challenge has been confirmed, with the unique rugby league series to feature blockbuster clashes between new and old rivals and six straight Saturdays of double headers.
The challenge will kick off at Barlow Park on August 8, with the Pride Reef Kings taking on Brothers Cairns at 2pm, followed by the Pride Giants doing battle with Tully Tigers at 4pm.
Teams will head to Stan Williams Park the following week for Round 2 action, before making the trip to Tully Showgrounds in Round 3.
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Brothers football manager Tim Rumford said he was looking forward to the new concept.
“For us to be a part of this and bring live football back to the area, it’s a huge honour,” he said.
Northern Pride coach Ty Williams said it was an exciting time for the Far North rugby league community, with two special event days in the six-round schedule, including the grand opening of the new grandstand at Tully Showgrounds in Round 3 and the 10-year anniversary celebration of the Pride’s inaugural Intrust Super Cup premiership in Round 4.
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“That will be a reunion weekend for the lads, so hopefully we can get as many old boys as possible to come back and watch the football live,” he said.
“It was something the club was pretty disappointed with once the competition had been cancelled, just due to the fact that these guys were the foundation that set this club up, not getting that chance to celebrate.
“Now that we do get to pencil in a time to do it, it’s a special occasion.
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“If it wasn’t for those guys, with what they did for the club and the success that they had, then we wouldn’t be sitting right here at the current moment providing young guys with opportunities.
“We’ve got to show our respect and honour what they did 10 years ago.
“It was a special day for our club and for Far North Queensland.”
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He said the club, which is entering two teams into the competition, decided to adopt new monikers for the challenge.
“They’re just a few ideas that were tossed around,” he said.
“It beats being Northern Pride Blue and Northern Pride Orange.”
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2020 LIGHTNING CHALLENGE
Round 1 — Saturday, August 8, at Barlow Park
2pm: Pride Reef Kings v Brothers
4pm: Pride Giants v Tully Tigers
Round 2 — Saturday, August 15, at Stan Williams Park
2pm: Pride Reef Kings v Tully Tigers
4pm: Brothers v Pride Giants
Round 3 — Saturday, August 22, at Tully Showgrounds (Opening of new grandstand)
4pm: Pride Reef Kings v Pride Giants
6pm: Tully Tigers v Brothers
Round 4 — Saturday, August 29, at Barlow Park (Northern Pride Old Boys’ Day and 10-year anniversary of inaugural Intrust Super Cup premiership)
2pm: Tully Tigers v Brothers
4pm: Pride Giants v Pride Reef Kings
Round 5 — Saturday, September 5, at Stan Williams Park
2pm: Tully Tigers v Pride Giants
4pm: Brothers v Pride Reef Kings
Round 6 — Saturday, September 12, at Tully Showgrounds
4pm: Brothers v Pride Giants
6pm: Tully Tigers v Pride Reef Kings
Originally published as CDRL, Northern Pride: Lightning Challenge draw revealed