PRIDE GO FROM BAD TO WORSE
SHELL-SHOCKED coach Ty Williams was left speechless after the Northern Pride suffered another brutal loss in front of their faithful at Barlow Park.
The 80-minute onslaught felt like an eternity for the home side and their supporters, whose despair had turned into disgust by the final siren.
The Pride had no answers on Saturday night for a red-hot Norths Devils outfit led by Broncos-contracted stars Sean O’Sullivan, Troy Dargan and Herbie Farnworth.
The Devils put on a rugby league clinic, running in 11 tries to three in the 62-14 thumping. REDCLIFFE 43 d EASTS 0 NORTHS 62 (Herbie Farnworth 4, Brendan Frei 2, Sean O’Sullivan, Troy Dargan, Jack Ahearn, Jordan Riki, Paul Ulberg tries; Herbie Farnworth 9 goals) d NORTHERN PRIDE 14 (Maurice Blair, Javid Bowen, Matthew Musumeci tries; Jordan Biondi-Odo goal) TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 32
“We got dealt a very good lesson in rugby league,” Williams said after the match.
“I’m sort of a bit lost for words at the moment.”
The coach brought his troops together in a huddle after the siren, before players d CQ CAPRAS 6 SUNSHINE COAST 28 d MACKAY 14 WYNNUM-MANLY 34 d SOUTHS-LOGAN 18 TWEED 22 d IPSWICH 18 BURLEIGH BEARS 24 d PNG HUNTERS 6 Saturday 4pm: Burleigh v Northern Pride (Pizzey Park) took their time to wander around the field and acknowledge fans in a gesture of appreciation.
“We owe the community and the people that pay their hard-earned cash to come through the door, because they 6pm: Redcliffe v CQ Capras (Dolphin Stadium) 6pm: Mackay Cutters v Norths (BB Print Stadium) 6pm: Ipswich v Souths—Logan (North Ipswich Reserve) Sunday 1.10pm: Sunshine Coast v Townsville 2pm: Tweed v Easts 2.05pm: Wynnum v PNG Hunters (Kougari Oval) just had to sit through 60-plus points being put on their home side,” Williams said.
“We’ve got to very clear on what the club’s about.
“We’re a non-profit organisation and the community base, that’s our most important ingredient – the sponsors, the people, the mums, the dads and the families that roll through.”
The Pride were forced to take an unorthodox bench into the match, after Tom McGrath tore his hamstring 24 hours before kick-off. With Dominic Biondi also out and Matolu Laumea suspended, the Pride had just one genuine forward on the bench, alongside two hookers and an outside back.
“We’re scratching the bottom of the barrel at the moment,” Williams said.
A potentially serious shoulder injury to luckless halfback Brayden Torpy, who underwent major shoulder surgery in the off-season, compounded the horror 48-point loss.
“It’s the same shoulder and looks like it could be a similar prognosis,” he said.
“We’re all shattered. Firstly, with our performance, but also for Torps. It’s unfortunate, but that’s footy and that’s the road we’re on.”