Northern Pride moves to retain squad for 2021 season

The outfits won’t quite match the stars and stripes of Uncle Sam but Northern Pride officials have delivered an identical message to every man who was set to play for the club in 2020: We Want You.

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THE outfits won’t quite match the stars and stripes of Uncle Sam but Northern Pride officials have delivered an identical message to every man who was set to play for the club this year: We Want You.

The Pride will not play in a major competition in 2020 due to coronavirus, but the club is well into planning for a return to the Intrust Super Cup and other Queensland Rugby League statewide competitions.

A key question over the past few weeks has been about the roster. After the Cairns District Rugby League cancelled its senior competition, players were left without any formal season.

The Pride is among the handful of clubs keen to organise some games for later in the year, but as more players return to training the Barlow Park club has taken major steps to secure the roster for 2021.

Every player has been told they are wanted by the club next season, with football manager Chey Bird saying it was a vital and important show of confidence in the playing group, which club officials genuinely believe were a strong chance at making finals.

“We believe we had the squad to get the job done,” he said.

“If players come on the market and are interested in a move, it’d be foolish not to talk to them, but we know that next year we’d be happy with the same group of guys on the paddock.”

Originally published as Northern Pride moves to retain squad for 2021 season