WYNNUM-MANLY TOO GOOD FOR NORTHERN PRIDE
A STAR addition has done little to fix the problems that plagued the Northern Pride last season in a worrying start to 2018 against Wynnum-Manly.
In greasy conditions at Langlands Park on Saturday, the Pride coughed up early ball in the wrong areas to start on the back foot, toiled to take the lead then faded late as a truckload of defence finally took its toll for a 24-12 defeat.
A 60 per cent completion rate gave five-eighth Todd Carney little opportunity to shine in an “up-and-down” return to rugby league in Australia, thoroughly upstaged by his halves partner Jake Clifford, who always looked dangerous as he scored both tries.
Pride coach Ty Williams said he was somewhat on repeat from 2017 and called on his side to be smarter ahead of a date with defending premiers PNG Hunters in Round 2.
“Obviously in the first half we did very well to be leading at halftime, considering we defended a fair bit,” he said.
“I was pretty happy with our attitude to defend early on then the second half started well, before an accumulation of errors.
“I think we completed three from seven and ended the game of 60 per cent completion which at this level you just can’t afford to do or else you’re going to get run down, which we did.
“We just need to be smarter. It’s not good enough at the moment. I just spoke to the boys, saying we need to be better. Just our game management needs to be better.”
Discipline was also wanting at times, particularly with the Pride twice pinged for incorrect play-the-balls.
Williams was full of praise for skipper Ryan Ghietti, who was monumental in the middle alongside destructive forward performances from Will Bugden, Nathan Wales and Troy Kapea off the bench.
Wales started in place of David Murphy and is set to retain a spot on the left edge.
The Pride’s Cowboys allocations also stood tall despite limited training time, particularly Tully star Clifford.
Williams said Carney would be better now the hype of his first game back in Australia was over.
The Seagulls heavily targeted the former Dally M winner as expected, which left him with little in the tank.
“We know he’s going to be a target every team we play, so they ran a lot of traffic at him and obviously that is something that the blokes around him have to be engaged with as well,” Williams said.