How fatherhood sharpened Storm weapon’s focus, Pride trialists

An opportunity to play in the Intrust Super Cup is the potential prize for 11 promising players from this year’s Cairns District Rugby League invited to train with the Northern Pride during the off-season.

HE was the secret mid-season pick-up who added a dimension to Edmonton Storm’s forward pack in their ill-fated charge for the Cairns District Rugby League, and now Fine Vakautakakala has his sights set on the next level.

When Vakautakakala – better known as Finz – ­arrived at the Storm midway through the CDRL campaign, it gave the Petersen Park club the muscle it needed to spark a late-season assault on making the post-season.

RELIVE THE CDRL GRAND FINALS HERE

It fell short, but he showed the form and ability to earn an opportunity to train with the Northern Pride.

Vakautakakala puts the growth in his maturity to the birth of his now eight-month-old daughter, Siwel, and with he and wife Elielia expecting another baby next year, he is even more focused on the present and future.

“My little daughter is eight months old, and my wife is pregnant again, so I’m trying to keep everything balanced,” he said.

“I don’t want to put too much time into training and miss family stuff.

“Doing those extras with some of the boys who are willing to help me along the way, and trying to cut down on the eating, too.”

Vakautakakala said he had changed for the better since the arrival of Siwel, and that could help his aspirations of playing rugby league at a higher level.

“It gave me a picture of where I want to be in the ­future,” he said.

“I’m trying to push myself to set actual goals of where I want to go so I can provide a life for her. She’s given me discipline; you have to be ­patient, and being at the stage of waking up in the middle of the night and stuff, there’s more sacrifices. It gave me more understanding of ­patience and sacrifices towards footy as well.”

Vakautakakala’s resume is rather impressive, especially in the latter years.

He did not make a representative team until he was 17. Growing up in a “church-oriented family”, he was not comfortable playing on Sundays, which ruled out many opportunities to play rep footy.

He still managed to be ­selected for the Auckland Falcons’ under-18s team, but skipped the age group to play A-grade for Bay Roskill ­Vikings in New Zealand Rugby League’s Sharman Cup.

Originally a winger or outside back, Vakautakakala ­returned from a two-year ­hiatus as a prop, but was still as damaging with the Steeden tucked under his arm.

He joined Edmonton, and it was a conversation between he and Storm president Cam Martin that sparked some of the drive behind the New Zealander’s form in the back end of the CDRL season.

“He said the next step for me was the Pride, they ­wanted to push me to get there but I had to push myself to prove I could do it,” he said.

“I was glad, happy. Now it’s another level of trying to prepare myself for it.”

Pride coach Ty Williams said Vakautakakala was a highly skilled ballplayer who could add an extra dimension to his forward pack, especially given the rule changes that have made the game even faster in the Queensland Cup.

“He is one of those players who benefits from the rule changes,” Williams said.

“He’s handy. He’s got a bit of ball-playing ability, which is great. It will be an exciting process for him. I’m keen to bring him in and see how he goes in the semi professional environment.”

The Pride’s pre-season starts Tuesday with an induction before hitting the field and gym later this week.

THE GUNS TO GET A CRACK AT PRIDE

AN opportunity to play in the Intrust Super Cup is the potential prize for 11 promising players from this year’s Cairns District Rugby League invited to train with the Northern Pride during the off-season.

Every CDRL club was offered the opportunity to put forward players they believed could be up to the rigours of the state league, before Pride coach Ty Williams and his staff selected those they believed could give it a red hot crack.

RELIVE THE CDRL GRAND FINALS HERE

This is the process by which Shawn Bowen became a regular member of the Pride lineup, the former Mossman-Port Douglas flyer now closing in on 50 ISC starts, while utility back Evan Child is following a similar path.

They will train with the Pride until the end of February and feature in the club’s pre-season trial games, and if they impress enough could earn themselves a more regular gig with the ISC club.

“If they do well, I’m not afraid to give them that opportunity,” Williams said.

Brothers' Lachlan Biondi-Odo. Picture: Brendan Radke

LACHLAN BIONDI-ODO (Brothers)

The Brothers fullback was outstanding throughout the season, and while the finals series didn’t pan out as he wanted, Williams sees potential in the outside back.

“He was fantastic at fullback this year,” Williams said.” He didn’t have the best finals but there’s a number of things we want to work on with him. His line engagement and communication are good.

“He’s got some good skill.”

MAREKO DANIEL (Mossman-Port Douglas)

The Sharks playmaker is a crucial part of any team in which he plays, and a proven matchwinner in his career.

“Mossman-Port Douglas don’t go back to back in 2018-19 if he isn’t playing,” Williams said. “He has this great left foot kick as well.

“I worked with him as a younger guy and he’s always had the talent.”

LEE KENNEDY (Edmonton)

The Edmonton backrower played a key role as one of the Storm’s leading and most hardworking forwards in 2021, and could take his game to another level with this opportunity.

“He came through the junior grades here and has been one of Edmonton’s best for a period,” Williams said.

“He’s a big body with a good work ethic, and he should do well with the opportunity.”

MATT LAUMEA (Tully)

A surprise omission from the Pride’s squad for 2021, Laumea was among the forward pack leaders in 2019 and brought that experience back to Tully as the Tigers’ best and most consistent forward in this year’s rough campaign.

“He’s an aggressive forward, was always one of the forwards leaders when he was here and he did that for Tully, he was one of their best each week,” Williams said. “We wanted him to come back and be among the group.”

TY MILLARD (Kangaroos)

A handy footballer with the smarts to succeed at dummy-half, Millard was Kangaroos’ best this year and has long been one of the better, more consistent rakes in Cairns.

“He’s such a smart footballer,” Williams said. “He’s not the biggest but there’s something there we can work with. He puts a lot of thought into the process and he could go to another level.”

Roos hooker Ty Millard. Picture: Brendan Radke

TYE SMITH (Brothers)

A key piece of Brothers’ dominant forward pack this year, Smith is an edge backrower with plenty of potential.

“You can tell by the way he plays that he’s been in that semi professional environment before, he’s been coached,” Williams said. “He gets in and does what he needs to do.”

STEVEN STAFFORD (Yarrabah)

The Yarrabah centre showed throughout the finals series he has the size, speed and skill to be a handful.

“He has the makings of a really good outside back,” Williams said. “

“He’s been involved in the 21s before, and we’re keen to see him develop in the semi-professional environment.

Yarrabah's Steven Stafford works towards the line during the 2021 Cairns District Rugby League grand final. Picture: Emily Barker

YAZA STEPHEN (Innisfail)

A key piece in any team he plays, Stephen won two titles in a row for Mossman-Port Douglas and featured for Innisfail in the 2021 grand final.

“You can see there’s a footballer in there,” Williams said. “Getting him in the semi pro environment will do him really well. They (other Pride players) will lift him, and it could be just what he needs.’

RHY YOUNG (Ivanhoes)

The Ivanhoes fullback has been on the Northern Pride’s radar for some time, and he’ll get a better crack training with the club’s top squad.

“Rhy was one of the players to put up their hands during the Lightning Challenge last year,” Williams said. “He’s really good out there. He’s hit the ground running but he needs a bit more size.”

The Pride will kick-off their off-season training regimen next month.

Follow @MMcInerney89

Originally published as How fatherhood sharpened Storm weapon’s focus, Pride trialists