Northern Pride: Meet the Cyril Connell Challenge and Mal Meninga Cup captains

Instilling a strong sense of honour in the jersey has been the focus for Northern Pride premiership-winning players Chris Sheppard and Joel Riethmuller since taking on the club’s under-16s and under-18s coaching roles this season.

With his wispy mullet flapping in the breeze, Northern Pride under-18s captain Clayton Dalgety certainly looks the part.

And, according to coach Joel Riethmuller, he can play it too.

How the Pride will play this season

Dalgety will lead the Pride’s Mal Meninga Cup side into battle against the Townsville Blackhawks this Saturday at Barlow Park.

The young backrower said he couldn’t wait to rip in.

Northern Pride under-18s captain Clayton Dalgety and under-16s captain Cain Hastie.

“It’s always been a rivalry and you always hear about it,” he said.

“I just want to go hard at it and make sure I can do the boys proud with being captain and keep pushing them along to the best that they can do and the best that I can do.”

Dalgety said he was hoping to take his game to another level with the Pride this season, as he takes the next step of his rugby league journey.

“I started in the under-8s playing junior footy in Ravenshoe, just a country boy just having a go really, and going hard at it,” he said.

MORE NEWS:

SuperCoach 2021: Your quick guide to FNQ’s NRL players

CDRL: Coach says young Roosters are plenty to crow about

’Snowflake’s chance in hell’: Why mayor has doubts over world sporting event

Why Pride coach is confident ahead of the new season

“I kept going up through my footy — you get into a few representative sides and you miss out on a few, but it just makes you push harder.

“About two years ago I started taking it more seriously, just before COVID hit.

“I started going really well and wanted to play it more, just throwing it about and playing with the boys.”

He said he was looking forward getting back on the field after the COVID-affected season.

“It was tough, I put on a few kilos and just missed playing footy and being with all the boys,” he said.

MORE NEWS:

Why Northern Pride’s new skippers are a perfect fit

Pride names first female captain

King makes mark as Taipans struggle

VOTE: The biggest sixes from the T20 Barrier Reef Big Bash

“I had to work hard in the pre-season, it’s been hard just trying to get my fitness back up there, but it’s all been worth it.”

Riethmuller said Dalgety made an immediate impression on the coaching staff in the pre-season, and was the popular choice to lead the team.

“I didn’t know him before we come into this but he’s a leader,” he said.

“I can see leadership qualities in him and he leads through his effort and his actions on the field, and at training and in our trial games he’s definitely a standout for us.

“He’s got a big heart, he’s a country boy, and he’s got respect around the group, I think that’s a big part of it as well.”

The coach wanted his side to embrace the occasion on Saturday afternoon, as they kick off the new season against their North Queensland rivals.

“There’s no secret we don’t like them, since Foley Shield — well, not that we don’t like them, but it’s just always been that battle,” he said.

“I hope they relish the challenge as much as I used to and just go out there and give it a good crack.”

Northern Pride under-18s captain Clayton Dalgety and under-16s captain Cain Hastie.

SHEPPARD NAMES HASTIE AS PRIDE U16 CAPTAIN

Instilling a strong sense of honour in the jersey has been the focus for Northern Pride premiership-winning player Chris Sheppard since taking on the club’s under-16s coaching role.

The Pride’s junior squads will kick off their new campaigns against the Townsville Blackhawks at Barlow Park on Saturday, with the U16s, U18s and U19s Girls all in action.

“I have had a lot of chats to the boys about what it meant, how the Pride started, where we all come from and what we’re about,” Sheppard said.

“They’ve really bought into that and they’ve come up with their own words, their own mantra and what they want to achieve, and it’s up to them to write their own story now.

Northern Pride under-16s captain Cain Hastie.

“They’re a pretty talented group, I’m pretty confident they can.”

Sheppard has named Mareeba’s Cain Hastie (pictured) as the U16s captain.

“Cain showed all the attributes that we were looking for,” Sheppard said.

“He’s a left edge backrower. He’s got a fair bit of skill, good size and footwork and ball-playing ability, and he’s very solid defensively.”

MORE NEWS:

SuperCoach 2021: Your quick guide to FNQ’s NRL players

Cairns Post to livestream Barrier Reef Big Bash

Nasser ready to go boom for Thunder

Norths skipper steers side to title glory

Young Cowboy impresses in Northern Pride hitout

Hastie said he didn’t know how much of a club legend Sheppard was at first.

“When we first started we didn’t know much, but we had a camp a while back and Chris sat us down and told us the history and how passionate he is about footy and we really took it on,” he said.

“It’s been really good, just learning heaps and really loving footy at the moment.

“It means a lot (to play for Pride),” he said.

“I love the Cairns region and I love the team.”

He said having a year off footy due to the impact of COVID-19 had only made him “hungrier”.

“It was a big difference not playing for about a year,” he said.

“I had to keep fit in the off-season and had to do my own stuff just to stay fit, but that year off has just made me want it more.

“I’ve just wanted to get back and play bigger and better footy.”

THE DRAW

12.30pm: Gates open

1pm: Pride U16 v Blackhawks U16

2.30pm: Pride U18 v Blackhawks U18

4pm: Pride U19 Girls v Blackhawks U19 Girls

5.30pm: Pride U21 v Mossman Sharks (trial match)

Originally published as Northern Pride: Meet the Cyril Connell Challenge and Mal Meninga Cup captains