Oh brother, now it’s all about family Pride
THE prevalence of brothers teaming up on the rugby league field is nothing new, but having two sets of brothers on the one team is something that doesn’t happen often.
Such is the case, however, at the Northern Pride this offseason, with new recruits Brayden and Cameron Torpy joining the ranks, while Evan and Corey Child have earned spots in the Pride’s development squad.
Evan, 20, knew he would be in the squad following his season with the Pride U20s, but 22-year-old brother Corey didn’t find out until two days before induction.
“He told me as soon as he found out,” Evan said.
“It’s good – back how it used to be. Doing preseason with your brother pushes you a bit more.
“It also helps with a bit of chemistry in the team.”
While the Childs shared the field last year playing for Brothers’ A-grade team, it’s been a little longer between drinks for the Torpys.
Brayden, who played for Easts in this year’s Intrust Super Cup grand final, will return to the Pride after spending a season with the club in 2016, while Cameron has been part of the Canterbury Bulldogs NSW Cup side.
Brayden said having his brother here would be a “definite help” during the season.
“It feels a bit more homely having him here and I’m definitely excited to be able to play with him.”
The brothers, originally from Brisbane, claim to have only taken the field on the same team once.
“We played in a trial game together when I was about 16 and ( Cameron) was 14, but that’s about it,” said Brayden. He said even in the backyard the pair would play on separate teams.
“We grew up next door to our cousins so we always had the numbers for a backyard footy game,” Brayden said.
“But even then it was always Cam and I going against each other, because we were two of the oldest ones.” Cameron quipped that he was “always on the winning team”, which Brayden followed with a “yeah, righto”, signalling a healthy sibling rivalry.
IT FEELS A BIT MORE HOMELY HAVING HIM HERE AND I’M DEFINITELY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO PLAY WITH HIM BRAYDEN TORPY