PRIDE NEEDS A WIN RIGHT FINALS SHIP
THE opportunity to play in front of an NRL crowd is one Northern Pride coach Ty Williams is keen for his side to take.
The Pride will travel to Moreton Daily Stadium to take on the Redcliffe Dolphins in a curtain raiser to the Bulldogs versus the Tigers NRL clash on Sunday.
Williams said it presented an opportunity for players to showcase their skills on the big stage, and before the eyes of top-level recruiters.
“I think it’s probably a good thing,” the coach said.
“Realistically, you look back six or seven months ago and no one gave us a chance to be in this position.
“I think we’ve gone through unnoticed for a while now but we’re starting to pique the attention of (NRL) teams, which is a good thing.
“Obviously our players have done a good job – you look at (Joshua) Stuckey and the likes, they’re generating some good interest and they get to showcase that in front of NRL quality coaches and staff this weekend, which will be exciting for them.”
Stuckey has reportedly signed a contract with the Bulldogs for the 2022 season, but neither the club nor player has confirmed the deal, while Pride under-21s five-eighth Seamus King-Smith has earned a preseason opportunity with the Melbourne Storm.
But, the Pride cannot afford to be too caught up in the moment, with the side needing a win to hold on to eighth place and the last finals position, with only one round remaining after this weekend.
A loss, on the other hand, could see it drop out of the top
I think we’ve gone through unnoticed for a while now but we’re starting to pique the attention of (NRL) teams, which is a good thing. Pride coach Ty Williams
eight, but that will depend on whether the Sunshine Coast Falcons can upset the Burleigh Bears.
Williams said, from where the Pride was sitting, the finals had already started.
“The opposition that we’re playing over the next two weeks in Redcliffe and Burleigh have both won the competition in the last three or fours years, so it starts this weekend for us,” he said.
“Obviously the boys are disappointed (after last week’s 34-12 loss to Tweed), but the good thing about it is we get a another chance to right the wrongs of what happened last weekend and hopefully the guys bounce back from it.”
Williams said his side would have to be stronger in the middle-third than it was against Tweed last week.
“They’re a big team through the middle, so that’s something that we need to really stamp our authority on and try to limit them to as little metres as they can make,” he said.
“Also they were very good at capitalising on errors against Easts last weekend, so we’ve got to eliminate that and give them no opportunity.”