Sport
28 March, 2025
Back to drawing board
IT has been a rocky start to the Hostplus Cup for Northern Pride after accumulating another disappointing loss against the Townsville Blackhawks who dominated a disperse Pride 28-14.
Northern Pride is having a hard time finding their pace under the new leadership of coach Russ Aitken, despite their potential the team have struggled with keeping the pressure up throughout the game, and handling errors and penalties ended up condemning the team to a big loss against the Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks were still riding the high from their win in round two against the Mackay Cutters and used the momentum to lead Pride into lots of mistakes and penalties to eventually take the win against a Pride that couldn’t figure out their strategy.
Mr Aitken said the team struggled to maintain pressure due to penalties and handling errors which cost the team a necessary win early in the competition.
“We didn’t start the way we wanted to start, too many fundamental errors and poor discipline, not being able to build up the pressure at the start of the game,” he said.
“There were too many errors throughout the game too, concentration errors that we need to get out of our game to be able to build that pressure and stop releasing pressure as well.”
Pride is going back to the drawing board to rethink their strategy as they prepare to face the North’s Devils – who currently seat at the top of the table – at Bishop Park, Brisbane tomorrow from 5pm.
The team will attempt to defeat a North’s Devils that has had an astounding start to the cup, boasting hefty wins against the Clydesdales and the Magpies, a winning streak they’ll aim to keep going if they defeat Pride.
Round four is the opportunity for Northern Pride to step up to the challenge and demonstrate the dominance that they’re usually known for to take the win in Brisbane and stop their losses streak.
