Team bonds now focus for Pride squads

THE Northern Pride’s underage squads will switch their focus to strengthening team bonds after final culls were made to both rosters.

Under-20s coach Dave Scott has whittled his squad down to 28 players, while under-18s mentor Bobby Berg has named a 29-man roster.

Some of the fresh-but-familiar faces include Edmonton halfback Sterling Addo-Nona, who helped guide the Storm to a CDRL under-18s premiership last season, and Yarrabah’s Keishon HunterFlanders, who took out the CDRL’s Moore Family Award for best and fairest under-18s player in 2019.

Also joining the club for the upcoming season are Auckland-bred teenagers Dray and Hurricane Roberts.

Pride football operations manager Chey Bird said the brothers came to the club looking for an opportunity.

“We made sure we did everything we could for the local guys first and once spots started to open up in the roster, we started looking at guys from outside of our catchment,” Bird said.

“We’re a pathway club so we gave them an opportunity and they’ve taken it with both hands. They’re training hard, fitting in really well and have been seamless in their transition to the club.”

Dmitri Ahwang, Tyrell Anton, Cooper Beasley, Keanu BowenWilson, Knephi Brim, Dylan Burge, Tyreece Crathern, Hamish Davies, Luke Erbacher, Brandon Hodges, Keishon Hunter-Flanders, Jesse Jackson, Daley Jones, Braedon Kelly, Anderson Kuna, Ronald Lewis, Bryce Moll, Timoci Naivaluwaga, David Nona, Keyarn Porter, Samisoni Raivaroro, Colby Roberts, Clay Salecich, Thuaki Satrick, Jayden Spagnolo, Tyrone Strickland, Jack Thomas, Henry Williams, Jarvis Yeatman