Northern Pride: Five young guns to watch in Storm trial match

Northern Pride young guns will get their chance to impress in the heat of battle when they take the field for their first trial match of the year this weekend. Here are five bright young stars to watch.

Northern Pride young guns will get their chance to impress in the heat of battle when they take the field for their first trial match of the year this weekend.

The Pride under-21s will take on the Edmonton Storm in a pre-season hitout at Petersen Park on Saturday. Kick-off is at 5pm.

Trial match. Cairns Foley Shield side vs Northern Pride under-20s at Barlow Park. Foley Shield's Ben Cocciolone and Pride's Jacob McCarthy. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN

For returning squad members, it is a chance to get some miles in the legs ahead of the 2021 Hastings Deering Colts competition, which starts on April 10.

But for others, it is a chance to stake a claim and possibly put their name forward for a spot in Pride U21 best 17 come round one.

Here are five bright young stars who will be looking impress coach Dave Scott this weekend.

Cairns 17-year-old Robert Derby has been signed by Melbourne Storm and will be playing for the Sunshine Coast Falcons under-20s next year PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

Robert Derby

Derby signed with the Melbourne Storm after shining in the elite schoolboy competition, the Confraternity Shield, for St Augustine’s College in 2019.

He was supposed to start his journey to the top with the Storm’s feeder club, the Sunshine Coast Falcons, last year, but didn’t get the chance after the season was cancelled.

He has since returned to Cairns to play for the Pride in 2021.

“He’s still only 18, so he’s potentially got three years in the system,” Scott said.

“He’s big, athletic, fast, strong — he’s an exciting prospect.”

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Taniela Taufoou

Having spent time as part of New Zealand Warriors youth teams while growing up in Auckland, Taufoou has a strong background in rugby league.

He was one of three New Zealand teenagers lured across the ditch by Innisfail Leprechauns coach Leon Hallie at the end of 2019, but didn’t get the chance to play after the Cairns and District Rugby League cancelled the season.

“He’s 21 this year so he wants to try and play the highest level he can,” Scott said.

“He’s been outstanding in the pre-season.”

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Munro Mosby-Stephens

Mosby-Stephens caught the attention of Pride Intrust Super Cup coach Ty Williams with a breakout performance off the bench in last year’s Lightning Challenge, and has been on a steady improve ever since.

The big-bodied outside back will be looking to do some damage against his junior club this weekend.

“We played an in-house game last week and he really lifted his game,” Scott said.

“I’m hoping he plays like that against men and not just the younger boys, so he can push himself into contention for selection.”

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Keishon Hunter Flanders throws a flick pass in the Northern Pride Colts Under 21s tryout match, held at West Barlow Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

Keishon Hunter-Flanders

Hunter-Flanders won the Cairns and District Rugby League’s Moore Family Medal for the best and fairest U18 player in 2019, as well as Yarrabah’s Young Hawk of the Year and Best and Fairest U18 Player of the Year gongs.

The Yarrabah speedster, whose skills have been likened to NRL legend Preston Campbell, was part of the Pride’s Mal Meninga Cup (U18) side last year and played in their season opener against Tweed Seagulls before the season was cancelled.

“He’s got that uncoachable speed and off-the-cuff game,” Scott said.

“He’s an exciting player and he can open things up.”

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Pride's Jacob McCarthy manages to offload the ball in the ball in the Round 2 match of the Lightning Challenge between the Northern Pride Reef Kings and the Tully Tigers, held at Stan Williams Park. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Jacob McCarthy

The Darwin product made the trip to Cairns to try out for the Pride’s under-18s ahead of the 2019 season, and made quite an impression with his 182cm, 96kg frame.

After the eight-week U18s season, McCarthy was immediately promoted to the Pride U20s side, where he became a regular starter for the rest of the season.

Chopping and changing between the forwards and the halves as a junior, McCarthy possesses natural ballplaying ability for a big body.

“He’s a very important player, either in the middle or on an edge,” Scott said.

“He’s a smart footballer.”

Originally published as Northern Pride: Five young guns to watch in Storm trial match