Pride to focus on juniors after Townsville flood cancels trial game

Historic flooding at Townsville has forced the cancellation of Northern Pride’s first preseason trial, but the Far North’s Intrust Super Cup team will shift its focus to supporting local juniors.

HISTORIC flooding at Townsville has forced the cancellation of Northern Pride’s first preseason trial.

The Far North’s Intrust Super Cup team was scheduled to travel to Jack Manski Oval on Saturday to play against Townsville Blackhawks and Mackay Cutters in a three-way trial.

It would have been each side’s first hitout ahead of the upcoming season.

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Instead, one of the biggest floods in Townsville’s history means Pride players will shift their focus towards its biggest supporters.

Pride football manager Chey Bird said players would instead assist with local rugby league sign-on days.

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Last week, members of the Pride’s under-18s and under-20s squads travelled to Mareeba to help with their sign-on day while the Intrust Super Cup squad endured a gruelling camp designed to test their physical and mental limits.

“(Connecting with junior footballers) is extremely important for us,” Bird said.

“The players will assist the clubs they’re allocated to for the season.”

Northern Pride takes field with local juniors

With junior rugby league club sign-on days spread across the next few weekends, Bird said you can expect to see Pride players out in force.

The Pride’s next trial game will be at Mossman on February 16, when the under-20s team plays Mossman Sharks’ A-grade side and the Intrust Super Cup faces the Cairns Foley Shield team.

Northern Pride will host the Blackhawks in trial games for all three grades at Gordonvale on Saturday, February 23.

Originally published as Pride to focus on juniors after Townsville flood cancels trial game