Wales is up for the challenge
Being the ultimate wingman of sorts is on Northern Pride backrower Nathan Wales’ (above) agenda as he looks to build on a blossoming left-side partnership against PNG Hunters today. After getting back into footy in 2017 after a year away, the former Brothers player forced his way into Ty Williams’ starting side to start the season and he plans on staying there alongside boom Tully talent Jake Clifford.
BEING the ultimate wingman of sorts is on Northern Pride backrower Nathan Wales’ agenda as he looks to build on a blossoming left-side partnership against PNG Hunters today.
After getting back into footy in 2017 after a year away, the former Brothers player forced his way into Ty Williams’ starting side to start the season and he plans on staying there alongside boom Tully talent Jake Clifford.
Like Tonie Carroll to Darren Lockyer back in the Broncos’ heyday, Wales has vowed to be the bodyguard for the young half outside him and in turn keep the opposition on their toes.
“It’s your job as a second rower,” he said.
“To help the men outside you, you’ve got to try to get out in front and stop them as much as you can and stop the other team getting towards him and I hope in turn he puts us through in attack, but you’ve got to just take it as it comes.
“I look forward to continuing to build on that. The first game he came out and had an absolute blinder and it’s great to be alongside someone of that skill level and obviously we want to keep building on what we started with.”
Wales said he was full of confidence in 2018 thanks to a run of Intrust Super Cup matches midway through last year and then keeping the run going through preseason.
But a date with the reigning premiers PNG Hunters shapes as his toughest challenge.
“I love playing against them because there’s no rubbish,” Wales said.
“They’re just a good, hard, fair team but I love the challenge as well because they always go 100 miles an hour.”
He said it would take a disciplined effort to beat the Hunters.
“I think if you get them under the pump they can be quite erratic, but if you let them have a roll on and have the game their way, they’re very hard to stop,” Wales said.
Pride CEO Greg Dowling was hopeful of a crowd topping 5000 spectators in a repeat of last year and urged home fans to keep the faith after players blasted the cobwebs out in Round 1.
“A lot of people will still come to watch. We had a few players make their debut last week, which was big for the Pride, so hopefully they turn up to see them,” he said.
Colin Wilkie and Justin Castellaro have been ruled out and David Murphy suspended, with Shawn Bowen, Connor Jones and Aidan Day drafted into the 17.
Jordan Biondi-Odo will replace the injured Todd Carney