Northern Pride to play finals for first time since 2018

Northern Pride will play finals footy for the first time since 2018 after the stars finally aligned for the Cairns club.

NORTHERN Pride will play finals footy for the first time since 2018 after the stars finally aligned for the Cairns club.

For the second straight season, the Pride was relying on the result of a Sunday afternoon game to determine whether or not they will feature in the finals.

“Twelve months ago is sending texts to everyone about where we were going to catch up for a beer,” said Pride coach Ty Williams.

“This time it’s back to training, doctors, physio.

“It’s exciting for us as a club, the players and staff have done a lot of work.

“There’s eight teams left, and we’re part of that.”

Brendan Frei of the Northern Pride crosses the line. Photo by Emily Barker

Last year, the Pride fell out of the top eight for the first time after that last game, missing finals in the cruellest of ways.

They did their job this time, dispatching Ipswich 40-18 at Barlow Park on Saturday night, but their finals fate was in the hands of others.

For 35 minutes of Sunday’s clash between Burleigh and Wynnum-Manly, it looked like history might repeat, but this time fate smiled at the Pride

Wynnum-Many led the minor premiers 12-4 when Seagulls centre Falakiko Manu was sent off for a tackle in which he made direct contact with the head, and from that point the Bears took control to run out 42-18 winners.

It meant the Pride finish eighth, and will feature in an elimination final next week.

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“My phone is blowing up,” said Williams shortly after Burleigh’s win.

“The messages I’ve been getting from the players, they’re all in the same spot I’m in.

“We’re excited.”

The Pride produced arguably their best 40 minutes of the season to lead Ipswich 28-0 at halftime, crossing five times as core trio Nick Lui-Toso, Paea Pua and Ash Little dominated their Jets counterparts.

Will Partridge opened the scoring in the second minute after a slick backline movement, and they were never troubled from then on.

Lui-Toso and Little were among the tryscorers, as was captain Chris Ostwald, who led the side from hooker with distinction.

Cowboys-contracted second-rower Brendan Frei bagged a double, while Ben Hampton also crossed in the second half.

A few players picked up minor injuries, with livewire fullback Julian Christian (ankle) and winger Partridge (groin) expected to be fit.

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Originally published as Northern Pride to play finals for first time since 2018