Nona fired up for Blackhawks stint
CHAMPION playmaker Shaun Nona is expected to return home this weekend as his new club the Townsville Blackhawks take on his former outfit the Northern Pride in Cairns.
The Tully product is likely to be part of the Blackhawks trial squad, which will be announced later today, and said he was excited to get onto the field.
Nona has played 67 games in the Queensland Cup as well as a premiership-winning season for the Illawarra Cutters in the New South Wales competition in 2016.
He was part of the Pride’s 2014 Q Cup premiership-winning team, which also won the inaugural NRL State Championship.
The 28-year-old has had contracts with the Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne Storm and St George Dragons, and said he still hadn’t given up on playing in the NRL.
Nona said his focus was on the Blackhawks at the moment and he was enjoying time being back home in North Queensland.
“It’s good to be closer to home now and I’m a bit older and experienced,” he said.
“Being closer to family, I’m enjoying being back in Townsville.
“I’m excited (about the pre-season match) to be honest.
“We’ve been training since the start of November and we finally get to play some footy, so a lot of boys are very keen to play.”
New Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne said Nona was a quality asset.
“It’s no fluke that everywhere he has gone, success has followed him,” Payne said.
“It’s good to have what I would class as somewhat of a local returning.
“He’s been training really well, his attitude has been fantastic. He’s already helping out the young guys, which is fantastic to see as a coach because he’s got so much knowledge and experience.”
Payne said Nona was likely to play in this weekend’s trial match to add some experience to the side.
The trial will be the Blackhawks first of the year after having their scheduled trial day against the Pride and Cutters at Jack Manski Oval cancelled because of the heavy weather.
“I’ll be expecting himself and a couple of the senior guys to lead the way because it’ll be a younger, more inexperienced team that we put out, so I’ll be looking for his leadership,” Payne said.
The Blackhawks play their final trial against the Cutters in Mackay as a curtain-raiser to the NRL hitout between the Cowboys and Storm on March 2.