Lowe’s loss no worry to Pride
NORTHERN Pride coach Ty Williams is not concerned about how Ethan Lowe’s move to South Sydney will affect his side’s composition.
Lowe was formally unveiled yesterday as the Rabbitohs’ newest signing, ending his fiveyear association with North Queensland.
He was part of the Northern Pride team to win both the Intrust Super Cup and the inaugural NRL State Championship in 2014, then played for the Cowboys in the club’s historic golden point grand final win the following year.
He played 108 NRL games for the Cowboys, but was pushed out of Paul Green’s top 17 last year, which ultimately meant he played nine games for the Pride.
Williams, who addressed media just minutes after Lowe’s move to Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs was formally announced, said the way he and Pride football manager Chey Bird recruited would minimise the impact the premiershipwinner had on the squad.
“We’ve recruited as if we don’t have the Cowboys coming back week-in, week-out and that’s something we’ve done since I’ve been here and spoke to Chey about when he came on board,” Williams said.
“We don’t focus on what we’re getting back from the Cowboys.
“We need to make sure we’ve got 17 guys that are going to cover the roles week-in, week-out. Any allocations we get back is a blessing.”
The Goondiwindi product played 22 games of the Pride – 13 as part of the Intrust Super Cup-winning 2014 squad and nine last year – and was expected to again feature for the Pride in Williams’ third season in charge at the club.
It was not long after Bennett’s move to Souths that rumours of Lowe’s southern switch became louder.
The Rabbitohs offloaded talented centre Robert Jennings to Wests Tigers to clear cap space for the 2016 Queensland Emerging Origin Squad member.
Once Jennings’ move was green-lit it allowed Souths to pounce on 27-year-old Lowe.
An on-field leader at the Pride, he was sent to the Cairns club by Cowboys coach Paul Green last year to work on various elements of his game.
The Pride will hold its season launch on Saturday ahead of next week’s season-opener against Redcliffe Dolphins.