LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

QYou’ve said many times how much you love the Northern Pride. Tell us about your relationship with the club.

AIt’s interesting. I’m not from here, like a lot of players at the club. I’ve had the awesome opportunity to travel with my football and move to different places, experience different teams and cultures, but I’ve never felt at home. Even with my parents in Lismore, I couldn’t wait to leave – like all young kids – and when I went back, it still didn’t feel like a place where I was at home. But I’ve moved here, and I’m happy. It seems to be a very rare thing, but that’s why I love Cairns – and why I love the Pride – because they’re all part of that.

QThe 2019 season wasn’t what the club had in mind. How was it as part of the playing group?

AWe’ve had a shocking season – that’s the only word for it, I think – but we’ve used 35 players this year and only about 10 of us had played Cup before. I’ve watched about 20 players debut for the club and I’ve watched 30 or 40 kids, across all grades, just get better and better every week and it honestly feels like you’re a part of something so much bigger than yourself. It’s a real community. To watch players like Quinlyn (Cannon), Terrence (Casey-Douglas) – they had no confidence in the group and they’ve got confidence now. To see Terrence talking in front of the group the other night was just awesome. Look at Cephas (Chinfat), he trained for two weeks before he played for us and he’d fit in in any Cup team in the comp, without a problem.