SQUAD ANALYSIS: Northern Pride under-21s

Northern Pride are playing the long game with the under-21s, with a focus on the development of potential future Hostplus Cup players than instant success.

NORTHERN Pride are playing the long game with the Hastings Deering Colts squad, with a focus on the development of potential future Hostplus Cup players than instant success.

The under-21s coach Dave Westley said his squad featured plenty of raw talent throughout a disrupted opening to his tenure as coach.

“There’s players who are really raw, and the players who are there we need to really develop into those roles,” he said.

“There’s been a lot of swapping and changing of players for whatever reason, it hasn’t been a stable team so far.

“But moving forward, the change we’ll discuss with coaching staff is about development.

“Developing the players and getting them in positions where they’re stable and keep working on them.

There will be some ups and downs, battles with some times, but that’s the direction we’re going in.”

Strength and conditioning are among the key areas of improvement, with Westley saying it had “let them down” across the park.

“We’re working hard on that at the moment,” he said.

“Every other team has gone through what we’ve gone through. They're all fit and strong.

“It goes back to commitment and individually n how much you want it, and how much work you’ll put in.”

Sterling Addo-Nona. Picture: Brendan Radke

FULLBACK

Blessed with raw pace and agility, Malique Douthat is this team’s first choice at the back.

“He’s the best fit at the moment that we have,” Westley said.

“There’s been a few boys we’ve tried there but he’s something we can build on.

“He’s got speed. He’s fast, he’s got to build on his strength and his communication as well.”

Jahoiyakim Afoa is also eligible for the under-21s, but has ben elevated to Hostplus Cup duty in recent time.

CENTRES

Westley has three key men at his disposal when it comes to the centre position, with Munro Stephens, Samuel Crump and Lachlan Rayson leading the way.

Ronald Lewis. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Munro’s just getting better, we’re working on his conditioning of course,” Westley said.

“Once we do that, he’ll be a brilliant player. Has a lot of skill, an aggressive runner.

“Sam has played back row, still pretty raw and has a bit of work to do in defence. He’s a very coachable young man and he’s committed to working on these things.

“Lachlan Rayson as well, he's’s very good in defence, good technically, and has some skill. He’s been injured as well but I’ll look to him to play out wide if needed.”

Others, like Jarvis Yeatman and Ronald Lewis, have been called upon to slot into the crucial position at times.

WINGERS

There are three clear options on the flanks, with two men - Ronald Lewis and Sami Raivaroro - proven performers having been in the system before.

Cameron Wilson is a newer face among the squad, but Westley is keen to see how he adapts.

“Sami’s gone really well in the last couple of games, his confidence has gone up under the high ball and he runs the ball hard,” Westley said.

“He’s very committed.

“Ron has been in the system for a little bit now. His conditioning has improved, and there’s certainly a bit of ability there.

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“Cameron came back from Brisbane looking for opportunities.

“I’ll give him a go, he has a sprinting and AFL background, has played rugby union. He’s pretty raw but he’s an athlete.

“Very fast, so he’s one to look out for.”

HALVES

Perhaps the most stable part of Westley’s squad, Dmitri Ahwang and Sterling Addo-Nona have the playmaking positions on lock.

Both are experienced and have been in the Pride system for some time, with Addo-Nona also having played plenty of CDRL A-grade.

Dmitri Ahwang. Picture: Brendan Radke

“They have played together and have a bit of experience as well,” Westley said.

“Dmitri has come back from injury but has a bit of work to do with conditioning and speed as well.

“I’ve put him in there because of his experience and talk on the field, everything else will come with more game time.

“Sterling can do a lot.

“He’s got a good kicking game, but just being consistent and getting back to conditioning. They have to be the fittest on the park.”

HOOKER

Westley has three key options at this crucial position, with Hamish Davies and Tyrell Anton both having early opportunities at hooker.

But Westley is leaning towards Josh Henderson as his starter courtesy of his football smarts, kicking game, and the way he pushes his teammates.

“Hamish is a good young kid, he’ll go a long way and has a great attitude - Tyrell as well,” Westley said. “They’d be up with our best trainers.

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“Josh is a smart footballer. So out of those three... at the moment I’m swaying towards Josh, especially after the Blackhawks game when he came off the bench.

“You always want these players to be pushing for spots and making it harder on the coaching staff.

“(Josh) looks up, he’s always looking left and right, and has a great kicking game out of dummy half.

“It gives us more options, instead of Sterling (or Dmitri) kicking and them putting pressure on him, it holds off that defence a bit if there’s options.”

PROPS

Westley’s front-row rotation is about as locked in as it can get with Corey Kennedy and Anderson Kuna making an imposing front-row combination.

“Corey has come a long way,” Westley said.

Corey Kennedy. Picture: Brendan Radke

“He as a young kid I saw at the trial and saw potential in n him, he’s grown as a player since we’ve had him. He’ll only be tougher with a lot more game time.

“Anderson is quality when he’s fit.

“He’s got skill, footwork, and he’s very strong as well. But it’s like a lot of the other players, you can do everything when you’re fit.”

Add in Taj Walker, and between the three of them Westley has a fairly good front-row rotation to deploy.

SECOND ROW

There is no shortage of options in the back-row.

Westley has used Jarvis Yeatman, Lachlon Rayson, Samuel Cramp, Jerome Singapu and Thauki Satrick as starters across the first three weeks of competition, while Ricky Wardle has added some power off the bench.

Sam Cramp. Picture: Brendan Radke

“There’s a few options there we’ve got, we just need to find the right combination,” Westley said.

“They have to be good defensively too.

“Work rate has to be important, and on the edges you have to be a good defender. They have to be able to run good lines too.”

LOCK

Ryan Flegler has the No. 13 jersey locked down, barring injury.

Northern Pride player Ryan Flegler. Picture: Brendan Radke

The captain has training with the Hostplus Cup squad for the past few months and developed into a genuine leader.

“He jumped in straight away, showed that leadership and out of everyone who showed up to training, I chose him because of that leadership,” Westley said.

“It wasn’t so much the talking, it was the work ethic at training.

“Along the way he’s started having a lot of input with the boys, talking to them after training or at halftime.

“He’s a smart footballer, he has a lot of football smarts.”

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

Two men who haven’t yet locked down spots but are eyed as potential starters are Tom Spark and Samuel Long.

Tom Spark. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN

Spark has come off the bench a few times after several years of impressing at Brothers.

Long is on the comeback trail from injury, and Westley can’t wait to see the youngster rip in.

“Tom has a great attitude,” Westley said.

“I didn’t put him in the first game, but he’s one of our hardest trainers. I love his attitude, he’s one to watch.

“With the direction we’re going, developing players who want to be there, he’s one.

“Sam broke his collarbone but he’s another who is raw but runs the ball hard, and tackles hard.

“He’s someone I really want to work with.

“He’s back-rower or lock, we just need to work on his putting on more size and strength. “There’s no issue with him taking that ball and taking the line on. He’s one of the hardest runners in our team.”

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Originally published as SQUAD ANALYSIS: Northern Pride under-21s