Carney call-up stirs up comp

REGIONAL Intrust Super Cup rivals have hailed Todd Carney’s arrival in Cairns as a tremendous opportunity for their players – but it has the Northern Pride No.1 on their 2018 hit list.

Mackay, CQ and Townsville coaches have little doubt the Far North club will surpass their lowly 12th place finish in 2017, but the step up in quality for 2018 has made everyone aware one slip-up could cost them a spot in the finals.

The Mackay Cutters just missed the finals last season and coach Steve Sheppard expects to battle the Pride for a place in the finals this year, a challenge his side is looking forward to.

“I think they had a pretty good squad last year, they probably just didn’t put sides away in a few games,” he said.

“But Todd Carney’s a quality player and he’s going to add a lot of quality to this competition. I know the boys are really looking forward to coming up against him and Mackay will be looking forward to seeing him play here as well.”

Mackay will be the first club to play the Pride in the preseason, giving prop Jack Brock the chance to have a run against his former club.

CQ Capras coach Kim Williams said his side would look to target Carney, as they would any star player, but was wary this could release the Pride’s other quality players, many with international experience.

“I think any team that has a player of that calibre, the opposition will definitely try to target him,” he said.

“We definitely know he’s going to be a key player for them, so it’s probably going to be in everyone’s game plan to try to target him a bit.

“I think everyone’s pretty excited to see him play in this competition and the Pride and players would be more excited than anyone. But as an opposition coach, I’m pretty excited to have him involved in the competition.”

Townsville coach Kristian Woolf was typically cagey about the battle for the north, but said the Pride’s strong recruitment and throughout the competition meant standards had to improve if clubs wanted to reach finals.

“I think (the Pride) have done a really good job in terms of their recruitment and they’ve certainly got a stronglooking roster,” he said.

“I’ve been involved for three years now and I think the competition as a whole has got a little bit tighter every year and looking forward to this year, it’s the best I’ve seen it.”

Woolf was still carrying high expectations into 2018 despite losing much of his spine in the off-season, but said the addition of Atherton junior Rod Griffin would help to offset their departures.

WE DEFINITELY KNOW HE’S GOING TO BE A KEY PLAYER FOR THEM, SO IT’S PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN EVERYONE’S GAME PLAN TO TRY TO TARGET HIM A BIT

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