STUCKEY’S STATEMENT

Pride snaps three-game slide after backrower’s sensational performance

JOSHUA Stuckey’s evolution into one of the Intrust Super Cup’s best forwards took another gigantic leap when his first-half hat-trick led the Northern Pride to a muchneeded victory.

Stuckey celebrated his 23rd birthday with three tries in just 10 minutes to lead Northern Pride to a statement win against Wynnum-Manly.

The 42-12 triumph over the league leader snapped a threegame losing slide.

The Pride made the Seagulls look second rate in an outstanding first-half blitz. The Cairns club ran in five tries to one in a superb opening 40 minutes.

But Stuckey was the man in the thick of the action, capitalising on Wynnum-Manly’s weak defence around the ruck to have three tries to his name by the 21st minute.

Pride coach Ty Williams was rapt in the backrower’s performance.

Stuckey lifted the bar as he produced another season-best outing, despite being unwell in the lead-up to the game.

Williams said a move from the edge to the middle was behind Stuckey’s mid-season rise to one of the club’s most consistent players.

“That’s the path he is on,” he said. “The move from the middle was a gamble to see how he adjusted and it’s paid off.

“He was a little off before the game, he couldn’t keep anything down. We kept it quiet, got fluid into him, and he came out and did that.

“It was just a really good game for Stucks.”

The Pride won but not everything went its way.

Regular fullback Jayden Corrigan didn’t play, while centre Bernard Lewis did not travel because he and his partner welcomed a baby girl into the world on Saturday morning.

In their place, Grant Anderson started at fullback, scoring a try then leaving the field after a heavy and high knock in the 26th minute, while Mark Rosendale produced another solid outing in his second Intrust Super Cup game.

The loss of Nick Lui-Toso to a knee injury, believed to be his MCL, in just the third minute meant the Pride rejigged its game plan – then played the final 55 minutes with just 15 fit men.

Evan Child, who was elevated to his preferred role at halfback, spent most of the game at fullback.

Thomas Steadman steered the side with support from cocaptains and hookers Jayden Hodges and Chris Ostwald.

Veteran forward Rod Griffin stepped up in Lui-Toso’s absence, playing all but six minutes and running for 231m and making 28 tackles.

“I thought he was the most comfortable out of all of the forwards,” Williams said. “He played 52 minutes straight through the middle.

“At halftime, I said to give me a good eight to 12 minutes, come for a short rest, then get back out there. And the way he adjusted was outstanding.

“I’m stoked with the engine room. They feed off each other and they are proving to be up to the level of the Intrust Super Cup.”

The Pride will host the ninth-placed Sunshine Coast Falcons on Saturday in a game that will carry massive finals implications.