PRIDE BEAT THE HUNTERS IN FINAL HIT-OUT
CHRIS Ostwald will get the nod to start the Northern Pride’s 2020 Intrust Super Cup campaign with the No.9 on his back after a strong performance in a 36-24 trial win over the Papua New Guinea Hunters at Barlow Park.
The 25-year-old displayed an effective running game in a double stint against the Hunters, running his forwards on to the ball and scampering out of dummy-half to get his side over the advantage line.
Ostwald made the most of his forwards’ quick play-the-balls and picked apart the Hunters’ marker defence close to the line, darting out of dummy half to score two tries, while also producing a clever short ball for backrower Ben Condon to crash over.
Pride coach Ty Williams said Ostwald showed positive signs in both attack and defence against the Hunters and looked to be forming a solid combination with the young core forwards Nick Lui-Toso,
Wiremu Greig and Peter Hola.
“He got better in that second stint,” Williams said.
“He was pretty calm under a bit of pressure, but I thought the dry track helped as well.
“Last week, we looked like pigs in mud sort of thing, but this week a dry track gave a chance for him to get out.”
Ostwald arrived at the Pride in the off-season after four seasons with Easts Tigers, where he made 56 Intrust Super Cup appearances.
Upon arriving at the new club, Ostwald was told he would have to earn his spot in the starting side, with Denzel King, Patrick Gallen and Quinlyn Cannon also fighting for the position.
While Ostwald has all but locked up the Pride’s No.9 jersey for this month’s season opener against Tweed Seagulls, coach Williams said which of the other three would get first crack at the bench utility spot was yet to be decided.
“We couldn’t play DK (King) this week because he got food poisoning on Wednesday and we didn’t want to run that risk,” Williams said. “Patty was solid again.
“He’s a smart footballer, he’s a thinking footballer – I think with him, Ozzy and Denzel, the three can really strike a combination. I’ll have to sit down with the other assistants and see what we’re thinking moving forward.”
Cannon had his first run of the pre-season for the Cairns Foley Shield side on Saturday.
“He went on a cruise in January, so put himself behind the eight ball, but it’s good to see him out there playing,” Williams said.