Pride hopeful of playing league despite coronavirus cancellations

Northern Pride will soon be back training at Barlow Park next week with a goal to get on the field this year, despite all senior rugby league competitions in FNQ being cancelled.

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Northern Pride will be back training at Barlow Park next week with a goal to get on the field this year.

The Intrust Super Cup club returns to training next Friday, with only members of the senior squad back at Barlow Park from the first night.

They’ll start with a series of meetings, in groups of no more than 20, which will cover the protocol players will have to follow when they train, then move into general skill-based activities and fitness.

The Queensland Rugby League’s decision to cancel the four statewide competitions means the club now has nothing to train for, but coach Ty Williams said they maintained hope they would take the field in some way this year as officials investigate how to make it happen.

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“If we can play one or two games at the back end of the year, and sort some way or avenue to get it done, we’ll do that,” Williams said.

“I know our football and administration team are doing their best to get some football for the players so she’s not dead and buried yet.”

The Pride’s players were set to play for Cairns District Rugby League clubs, though the clubs’ decision to cancel the CDRL competition for the first time since World War II means that, at this time, there will be no formal senior rugby league competition in Cairns.

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Despite the lack of clarity surrounding if and how they’ll play this year, Williams said it was an exciting prospect for both he and the players to get back to the training field.

“The club’s gone through a process and what our requirement is, and the documents required to return to training are sitting with our venue holders at the council,” he said.

“Just to get the boys back into it, get them re-engaged, with potentially some football at the back end of the year, we’re not too sure yet, but it’s a step in the right direction.

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“It’s been an interesting couple of months. Chey (Bird, Pride football manager) has done a great job in making sure we tick all of the boxes moving forward.”

The senior side will lead the way back to training, with the club’s younger teams – the under-18s and U20s – to follow in weeks to come.

“We have to make sure our processes are right first,” Williams said.

“It’s exciting, it’s finally something to really enjoy.”

Originally published as Pride hopeful of playing league despite coronavirus cancellations