What player retention says about the Northern Pride

Key elements of the Northern Pride engine room are locked in for a return next year, and with as many as 11 players already agreeing to extend their stay in Cairns, it’s evidence this club is going the right direction.

KEY elements of the Northern Pride engine room are locked in for a return next year, and with as many as 11 players already agreeing to extend their stay in Cairns, it’s evidence this club is going the right direction.

The Pride have endured some tough seasons on the field since their last premiership in 2014, and while they were pushed to the financial brink and back off the park, it appears the club is back on the upward curve.

It’s clearly evident in the way so many players have committed their future to the club.

EVERY PLAYER SIGNED FOR NORTHERN PRIDE’S 2022 SQUAD

Re-signing announcements are usually saved for the off-season, but the Pride have already announced co-captain Chris Ostwald, front-row partners Paea Pua and Nick Lui-Toso, and outstanding young second-rower Tom McGrath will return in 2022.

Pride chairman Nigel Tillett said coach Ty Williams and CEO Paul Callaghan had “done a great job” in attracting and retaining the players.

Northern Pride coach Ty Williams. Picture: Brendan Radke

Williams is optimistic the halves will be stable, but with offers to more than 20 players – and a strike rate above 50 per cent so far, it’s clear there is confidence in the club and what it’s doing.

Some of their success comes back to the way Williams has handled the group this Intrust Super Cup season.

He has been able to focus all of his time on rugby league, which is easily seen when comparing the way his teams played in 2019 and 2021, though that Covid-interrupted 2020 had also played a major role in changing the way he approaches the job.

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“If Covid taught me anything last year, it was getting to know my players, and that’s something I’ve worked pretty hard with, plus also the assistants and understanding them,” Williams said. “I think that’s a reason why they’re comfortable to stay as well.

“They know I work hard and they’ve got to work hard to achieve the results they’re chasing. The balance of it is real good.

“As a coach and individual, I want to instil confidence in the players in what I’m delivering.

“For me, as a coach and the journey that I’ve gone on in the past four years, I’m a different coach to when I started. I’m a lot more open to ideas and taking a lot of stuff on board and listening to the players.”

The best thing, for Williams and the club, is how many players who first played footy in the Far North are becoming mainstays, with Evan Child and Ewan Moore among those showing that development and growth after another season in the Intrust Super Cup system.

“We’re gonna get that engine room sorted pretty quickly, hopefully our halves will hang around, then we’ll build on that,” he said. “We’re starting to unearth some really good homegrown talent in Mark Rosendale, Terrence (Casey-Douglas) is into his third or fourth year with us, McGrath is a local – these guys are getting better and better every year.”

Originally published as What player retention says about the Northern Pride