RUGBY LEAGUE Pride in line for boost from rising Cowboys

THE Northern Pride could welcome a couple of North Queensland Cowboys young guns into their squad for this weekend’s trial match against Townsville Blackhawks.

Pride coach Ty Williams said players that didn’t line up in the side’s first trial against the Cairns Foley Shield side on the weekend would “definitely” be getting a run against the Blackhawks on Saturday.

However, Williams added the club could also be bolstered by a couple of North Queensland Cowboys rising stars for the pre-season hitout.

“We’ll just see what (Cowboys coach Paul Green) does with a few of his young Cowboys,” he said.

“Obviously we won’t get the top 30 guys, but we’ll see if we can get a couple of development or rookie contract guys to come up and play for us that look like they might be getting allocated to us.”

It’s an exciting prospect for rugby league fans, with 18year-old Cowboys speedster and Cairns product Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who last weekend set the rugby league world on fire with his incendiary performance at the NRL Nines, a chance of slipping on a Pride jersey this weekend.

However, Williams said he wouldn’t get ahead of himself.

“He went good on the weekend, didn’t he?” said the coach.

“I assume he’ll be playing with the big boys (this weekend), which would be good.

“It was an exciting weekend for him obviously and I think Greeny stated it pretty well in the media afterwards – even though it was a Nines competition, you just know what the kid’s got.

“Hopefully he does that on

Saturday night to please the Cairns faithful.”

Cowboys director of football Peter Parr earlier this month confirmed Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow would be allocated to the Northern Pride this season, with the youngster on a development contract and ineligible to play NRL until July.

After sitting out the Pride’s first trial, new signings Chris Ostwald, Javid Bowen, Rod Griffin and Nick Lui-Toso have been named to play their first games for the Pride this year on the weekend.

Terrence Casey-Douglas is expected to line up despite the forward requiring seven stitches after copping a head knock on the weekend.

Matolu Laumea and Joe Eichner have both picked up foot complaints and will be monitored.

Picture: ANNA ROGERS DEBUT: New Northern Pride recruit Chris Ostwald is set to play his first game for his new club against the Townsville Blackhawks in Saturday’s trial at Barlow Park.