Palmerston face Litchfield in 2024 NRL NT edition of the Mitchell Russell Shield
The Palmerston Raiders will take the challenge to Litchfield to retain their grip on top spot and also to regain the beloved Mitchell Russell Shield. Check out the latest NRL NT action here.
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Palmerston’s grip on the top of the table depends on how they fare in what promises to be an emotion-charged edition of the Mitchell Russell Shield against the Litchfield Bears.
The Raiders sit top of the table after three rounds with wins against Nightcliff and the Brothers, as well as a point from the called off game against Sharks.
And now their sights are set on winning back the Mitchell Russell Shield, which they lost last year to Litchfield in a close run 28-20 match at Palmerston home of Raiders Park.
The match is played in memory of the Darwin-born DJ and role model for troubled kids who had played at both clubs, but died in a tragic motorcycle crash in 2014 at the age of 23.
Palmerston coach Daniel Roach said the match is a very important one for both sides, which always made for a passionate game of footy.
“What you heard from the club and Litchfield is he was an amazing guy, an amazing footballer and very passionate about his football,” he said.
“That passion is going to show, it’s very important to both clubs to try and win the shield, and we’re looking forward to a big clash.
“It’s going to be a tough scrap from the kick off right to the final whistle, it’s going to be pretty exciting and if I was anyone coming to watch local sport there’s where I would want to be.”
The match will take place at the Bears’ home of Webber Park with Litchfield expected to be a tough ask to beat, with just one loss of their own from their three matches.
Their loss came to the Brothers in Round 2, while they’ve beaten South Darwin and the Sharks with Julius Appo the league’s top try scorer so far with six to his name.
Captain Trent Wedding has led from the front as usual, while former Palmerston player Jacob Rainger has been another standout for the Bears from the early rounds.
Meanwhile, Palmerston will be expecting a big outing from David Russell, Mitch’s brother, who’s back in the side from suspension, alongside Brad Hansen and Steve Smith, for the occasion.
They will join Blake Blomley, who has been ripping up the competition with hard tackles and cannonball runs, as well as the inform Palmerston halves Beau Ryan and Alex Parsons.
“Everything seems to be working out very well, we’re getting 40 plus to training every Tuesday and Thursday, which is amazing and there’s a lot of energy around,” Roach said.
“We’ve really worked on our fitness in the pre-season and that came down to the attitude of wanting to be a contender, and everyone has switched on and wants to play football, the hungers there.
“Litchfield are a gun side and will have blokes coming at us all game, Rainger is very exciting and someone we have shut down, but Bears are going to be a tough side.
“But for us if we can get the forwards to set up the platform and then we can run off the back our halves we’re in for a good game.”
Meanwhile, reigning premiers Northern Sharks face South Darwin with both sides eager for their first win of the season, and the in-form Nightcliff will take the challenge to the Brothers.
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