Northern Pride prop Dave Murphy gets ready for elimination final this weekend

MILD-mannered real estate valuer by day, front-row wrecking ball on weekends.

Mild mannered house valuation agent by day and crushing front row forward for The Northern Pride by night, Dave Murphy will run onto the field against Ipswich Jets this weekend as the semi-finals get underway. Picture: Marc McCormack

MILD-mannered real estate valuer by day, front-row wrecking ball on weekends.

Dave Murphy and his Northern Pride teammates will cast aside their everyday alter egos and take on the role of Intrust Super Cup heroes on Sunday.

Since the end of 2014, the defending premiers have overcome the loss of key playing personnel, a head coach, chief executive and a horrid opening month to reach an elimination final with Ipswich.

In his first year at the Pride, young prop Murphy has proven one of the finds of the season, juggling footy in with the demands as a cadet assistant valuer at Herron Todd White Cairns.

“A lot of people may not know how much time we spend at footy and training,” Murphy said.

“But it is not that hard because we do it because we love it. My boss is really good and lets me work things around footy.”

Through that labour of love, however, has come a shared respect from the Pride’s playing group.

“When you are buggered out on the field you want to push hard for your mates because you want to do it for them,” Murphy said.

“The teams that are the closest do the best.”

That’s exactly what the Pride are banking on against the free-spirited Jets. “If we stick to our structures, I’m confident,” Murphy said.

Sunday’s match at North Ipswich Reserve, to be shown live on WIN, kicks off at 1.35pm.

Originally published as Northern Pride prop Dave Murphy gets ready for elimination final this weekend