Northern Pride to put premium on possession in Falcons opener
Northern Pride co-captain Jayden Hodges believes possession will be all ten tenths of the law this Intrust Super Cup season.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Northern Pride co-captain Jayden Hodges believes possession will be all ten tenths of the law this Intrust Super Cup season.
The former NRL hooker said the implementation of new rules, such as the NRL’s six-again rule and play-the-ball restarts, would put a premium on possession and high completion rates in 2021.
It’s a theory the Pride will put to the test in Saturday’s season opener against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
“I think possession has always been a big part of the game but, particularly this year, you definitely want to be making less tackles than the opposition,” Hodges said.
“You want to be holding the footy and gaining momentum through the middle of the field; you don’t want to be making more tackles than your opposition otherwise you just make life harder for yourself.
“In saying that, our defence has to be rock solid, in particular our scramble and our middle defence, to shut down their dangerous players.
“They’ve got a good spine so that’s the job we’ve got to do, but our game plan is to make less tackles in defence than the opposition.”
The NRL 14-gamer said points would come naturally for the Pride if they could win the possession and field position battles.
MORE NEWS:
Youth and experience to drive Thunder in hunt for twin wins
Son of Snitzel storms to victory
WATCH: Live games and replays of the Barrier Reef Big Bash
Barron teammate eager to go after in-form Fulton
“With the new rule changes and the way that Tybo (coach Ty Williams) wants us to play, I think it will suit the players we have in our squad,” he said.
“We can play an attacking style of play and hopefully can turn that into points.”
Hodges has been named on the bench this Saturday, with co-captain Chris Ostwald to start ahead of him at hooker.
“Chris has got the nod to start this week so my job will be to come off the bench and add a bit of impact, gain some game speed and hopefully run around some tired forwards,” Hodges said.
Ostwald said who would start at nine would be a week-by-week proposition.
“It will change depending on who we’re playing,” he said.
“We’ve both got different playing styles. I play off a little bit faster speed, which we might need against sides like Redcliffe, going out with a bit more firepower and then Hodgo coming on to steer the ship around when those big boys are a bit more tired.
“Or it could be the opposite. If we need to start with a calm head, Hodgo might be the man, and I understand that.
“I think we both understand we bring something different to the team, but also that what we bring is vital for the team.”
Williams wouldn’t rule out both co-captains being on the field at the same time – similar to how the Storm used Cameron and Brandon Smith together in 2020.
“It will depend on the game plan,” he said.
“We just feel, at the moment, we want to start pretty fast and Ozzy will give us that, and then obviously Hodgo comes on there and plays either a nine role or a 13.
“We’re unsure just yet, we’ll see how the game unfolds.”
Hodges said having both co-captains on the field could give the side an advantage.
“Once the game slows down a little bit and they’re starting to get a bit of joy through the middle, then we might look to do that,” he said.
Northern Pride to relish chance to make early statement
If the Northern Pride want to make a statement, they have a golden opportunity against the Sunshine Coast Falcons this weekend.
The two clubs had vastly different seasons the last time the Intrust Super Cup competition ran in full in 2019, finishing at opposite ends of the ladder.
That year, the Falcons claimed the minor premiership after they dropped just one game during the regular season, while the Pride won just five of their 23 games to finish a lowly 12th — the worst result in the club’s history.
But the Pride will start the new campaign with a clean slate after coach Ty Williams, eager to eradicate the memories of 2019’s season from hell, overhauled the playing roster in the long off-season, with an all-new spine to take the field in this Saturday’s season opener.
Jayden Corrigan will start at fullback, Tom Steadman at halfback and Chris Ostwald at hooker — none of whom were at the club in 2019 — while Cowboys’ NRL allocation and Far North junior Ben Hampton will wear the six.
Williams said it was a big test early in the season and a chance to send a message to their Intrust Super Cup rivals.
“There’s no bigger challenge than heading down into their backyard and taking them on,” he said.
“Their connection with Melbourne, when they bring those guys back, they’re such a professional outfit down there and they’ve been so successful for so long.”
MORE NEWS:
Dare Devils skipper puts pressure on himself to make runs
How to watch six Barrier Reef Big Bash games live this weekend
Barron teammate eager to go after in-form Fulton
75 from 34: Roach’s wild T20 innings
Storm NRL allocations Nicho Hynes, Jack Howarth, Cooper Johns, Trent Loiero and Cairns product and former Pride prop Darryn Schonig have been named for the Falcons.
Former Newcastle half Jarrod Mullen has been named on the bench.
“We need to very good across the park from one to 17 and make sure that we do a job on those guys and limit their opportunities, but obviously they are class players,” Williams said.
“It’s a good testing point for the lads because of the fact three of those guys debuted in the NRL last year as well, and our boys get to showcase their skills against them.”
The Pride will be without props Nick Lui-Toso and Brad Lupi for the season opener with the pair sustaining MCL injuries.
“They’ve been scanned and they’re on a back-to-run program, probably about six weeks for them,” Williams said.
“It’s not ideal, but it is what it is. We’ve got to coach a bit differently and play a little bit differently, but we’ve got more than enough depth their to cover us.”
Williams said he expected every game to be tough this season.
“The NRL’s obviously flying at the moment, and the guys that aren’t playing NRL are going to be allocated back to these clubs, it’s going to strengthen the competition,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s going to be any easy beats, the good thing about that is the players are aware of it, so we have to hit the ground running Saturday, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Kick off is at 3pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Steadman to pilot Pride in ISC debut
The Northern Pride will unveil a 21-year-old Central Coast halfback sensation that could hold the key to the club’s No.7 struggles.
Tom Steadman will make his Intrust Super Cup debut for the Pride in Saturday’s season opener against the Falcons on the Sunshine Coast.
The rising playmaker has been given the nod to start at seven for the Pride ahead of Matt Egan and Evan Child.
The Pride have struggled to find a star halfback capable of guiding the team consistently since Sam Obst hung the boots up at the end of 2015.
Coach Ty Williams said Steadman was capable of piloting the Pride despite being one of the youngest players in the squad.
“I thought Tommy edged both lads out over the trial period, but also his attitude when he come to the club — I’m not saying the two others boys were off — but you could tell that he was one of the guys that wanted to really be here and he’s come here for a reason,” Williams said.
“He’s been through the Roosters and Newcastle systems, so he knows what it’s like to be in a professional environment, and obviously he understands what he’s here for, and that’s to hopefully further his rugby league career.”
Steadman will partner Cowboys allocation and Mareeba product Ben Hampton in the halves.
“Tommy gets first shot and has to prove his worth come Saturday arvo — if not, there’s two lads there waiting to go, which is exciting for us, because we’ve got depth in the position,” Williams said.
MORE NEWS:
Why 2021 means so much to FNQ’s Blackhawks captain Mahendrarajah
Kangaroos yet to settle on Bradley Stephen; Biondi-Odo’s headache
75 from 34: Roach’s wild T20 innings
The Harrovian gives All-Star Mile rivals a scare
REPLAYS: Relive five T20 Barrier Reef Big Bash games here
“Evan picked up a bit of a knee knock in our in-house trial so didn’t train last week but has made some massive gains over the last 6-8 months, and Matty Egan was just a little bit out, that’s all.”
Hampton will be joined by fellow Cowboys allocations Connelly Lemuelu, Wiremu Greig and Pete Hola, as well as Cairns juniors Heilum Luki and Ieremia Nanai, who are set to make their ISC debuts.
Williams said he had a simple message for the debutants.
“Go out there and enjoy it,” he said.
“The big thing with those two lads, maybe not so much Ieremia because he went away the last couple of years, but they’ve both grown up in our backyard.
“It typifies the Northern Pride and what we’re all about. We unearth some really good rugby league players and there’s another two to be added to that honour board downstairs.
“I’m excited for them. The journey towards an NRL career starts this Saturday.”
TEAM LIST — ROUND 1
1. Jayden Corrigan, 2. Shawn Bowen, 3. Connelly Lemuelu, Bernard Lewis, 5. Matt Musumeci, 6. Ben Hampton, 7. Tom Steadman, 8. Wiremu Greig, 9. Chris Ostwald, 10. Rod Griffin, 11. Josh Stuckey, 12. Ewan Moore, 13. Pete Hola, 14. Jayden Hodges, 15. Heilum Luki, 16. Ieremia Nanai, 17. Tom McGrath, 18. Matt Egan, 19. Terrence Casey-Douglas, 20. Lata Fakalelu
Originally published as Northern Pride to put premium on possession in Falcons opener
‘Annastacia Palaszczuk saw the writing on the wall’
Voters have come out swinging for Labor after an exit poll showed the LNP is set to romp home in the Queensland election.
‘See ya’, ‘not before time’: Readers fire up over exit poll bombshell
Readers have come out swinging at individuals as they celebrate a Courier-Mail exit poll that shows the LNP is set to romp home in the Queensland election, but many others are warning it may not be a done deal just yet.