Blackhawks building
TOWNSVILLE Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne has lauded his squad’s professionalism as they ramp up their preparations ahead of next month’s Queensland Cup trial matches.
The Blackhawks will play a threeway trial against the Northern Pride and Mackay Cutters at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday, February 9.
Each team will still play a full 80minute match, split into a roundrobin style with 40-minute thirds.
All three grades – Q-cup, under-20s and under-18s – will take part in the three-way trials while the Blackhawks are also slated to play a preseason game against the Pride in Gordonvale on February 23.
The three-way trial is a unique format, but Payne felt it would be a good opportunity for young players from all three clubs to show why they deserve a place in the top squad.
“The real benefit is the fact that a lot of guys that have been up training with us in the ISC (Q-cup) squad, some of our 20s and some of our guys that have come in from local league, and they’ll get their first opportunity to put their best foot forward,” Payne said.
“Obviously the preseason’s pretty tough and the weather doesn’t help either. I know from a players’ point of view trials can’t come round quick enough.
“I’m not worried about the result. It’s more around how we put into practice what we’ve been learning.”
Payne is in his first year as Blackhawks coach and while he admitted it was tough to gauge their progress before they’ve played a game he couldn’t fault their efforts during the preseason.
“A few things I look at are the quality of our sessions and player attitudes, and they’ve been sensational, I can’t fault them,” Payne said.
“Certainly the skill level’s been really high so it’s hard to really pinpoint someone in particular that’s been going well. Right across the board they’ve been really professional and training well.
“I’m really looking forward to the trials coming along as well and we can get a little bit of perspective with where we’re at.”
Blackhawks operations manager Adrian Thomson felt the trial format would benefit all three clubs, with the NRL and QRL to also hold a health and wellbeing day that focuses on helping to better prepare players for the pressures of elite rugby league.
“We don’t have it too often where the three clubs are in the one venue so it’s great for people to see the best talent in the North,” he said.