FLEGLER SET TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF
MAREEBA Gladiators centre Ryan Flegler will have his best opportunity yet to impress Northern Pride coaches and play himself into Hostplus Cup contention when he starts the club’s first preseason trial in Tully on Saturday night.
The Tully-born centre, the younger brother of Broncos and Maroons firebrand Thomas, has quietly gone about his business in the Pride’s development system, but a full season in the Cairns District Rugby League A-grade competition might have made the biggest difference.
Flegler spent last year in Gladiators colours, focusing his attention on the local competition, and that season is paying dividends.
Of the extended squad who have trained at the Northern Pride’s Jones Park headquarters this off-season, it is Flegler who has caught the eye of Hostplus Cup coach Ty Williams.
The former Cowboys and Maroons centre invited a number of the CDRL’s best players to train with the state league club over the summer, a regular program the Pride initiates which can unearth a future Hostplus Cup talent.
And of the 11 players on train and trial deals named in the Pride’s 21-strong team for Saturday night’s trial against the North Queensland Young Guns, it is Flegler that Williams is most excited to see in action.
The fact his growth came from playing regularly against fully grown and more experienced footballers is a ringing endorsement of the CDRL, and its legitimate role as a pathway to professional rugby league.
“He didn’t participate in the 21s last year, he was tied up with his dad’s banana business and working on the farm, but he came back, trialled, and has been one of the best performers,” the Pride coach said.
“His application to training has been unreal – he’s travelling to and from Mareeba every night just to train. I think he’s grown up a lot over the last year, and has been very impressive.”
A strong performance against the Young Guns at Tully Showground could be enough for Flegler to lock up a development position at the Pride, which would allow the club to elevate him into the top squad later in the year.
“This is a reward for his efforts over the off-season,” Williams said. “We’ll keep an eye on him. He seems like a totally different person to the man who was here 12 months ago.”
The Pride face the Blackhawks in U16s, U18s and U19s women's trials, with the Pride-Young Guns clash to kick-off at 7pm.