FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED: PRIDE V JETS

1FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE Pride coach Ty Williams took on the Jets’ unorthodox attacking style with his own unconventional methods, starting Maurice Blair in the halves and having two utilities on the bench in Jordan Biondi-Odo and debutant Patrick Gallen. Biondi-Odo and Gallen were injected in the 33rd minute, after which Blair retreated to an edge.

2TACKLE-ALL TOM In his Queensland Cup debut for the Pride, under-20s backrower Tom McGrath did not go unnoticed, notching up 38 tackles and 50 running metres in a gritty 80-minute performance. Only co-captain Tom Hancock made more tackles on the night. McGrath was called into the side following injury and suspension, but didn’t look at all out of place.

3GALLENS OF SPEED McGrath wasn’t the only Pride debutant on the night, with Patrick Gallen also playing his first Queensland Cup game. A standout at hooker for the Pride under-20s in 2018, it was only a matter of time before Gallen got his chance in the Cup side. The agile hooker came on late in the first half and posed a threat with his speed out of dummy-half.

4COWBOYS FIRE Enari Tuala, Gideon GelaMosby and Peter Hola were all among the Pride’s best, as is to be expected from the Cowboyscontracted trio. The three players were among four Pride players that eclipsed 100 running metres, alongside prop David Murphy. Tuala proved hardest to handle, with six tackle breaks and 91 post-contact metres.

5PRIDE IN PERFORMANCE After 52-8 and 60-6 wallopings in consecutive weeks, the Pride turned out a performance they can at least take some, er, pride in. With 20 minutes to go, there was still hope for the Pride — a big improvement from recent weeks. The coach said he wanted a response this week and, while it wasn’t a win, he got one.