Northern Pride v Ipswich Jets at Barlow Park, on Saturday, April 15 – 5:30pm
Northern Pride
1. Jared Allen 2. Khan Ahwang 3. Bradley Stephen 4. Luke George 5. Marcus Jensen 6. Jordan Biondi-Odo 7. Ryan Ghietti (c) 8. Sheldon Powe-Hobbs 9. Connor Jones 10. William Bugden 11. Graham Clark 12. Patrick Mago 13. Joel Riethmuller 14. Colin Wilkie 15. Troy Kapea 16. Darryn Schonig 17. Aidan Day 18. Tom Hancock 19. Nathan Wales
Coach: Ty Williams
Ipswich Jets
1. Wes Conlon 2. Michael Purcell 3. Ben White 4. Nemani Valekapa 5. Richard Pandia 14. Chris Ash 7. Dane Phillips (c) 8. Billy McConnachie 9. Mikaere Beattie 10. Nat Neale 12. Seb Pandia 22. Tyson Lofipo 17. Mitch Carpenter 6. Luke Capewell 11. Sam Martin 16. Huskie Teatau 21. Nathan Gaulton
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
LAST TIME THEY CLASHED: Round 18 2016.
IPSWICH JETS 30 (Richard Pandia 2, Mikaere Beattie, Liam Capewell, Ben White tries; Wes Conlon 4, Mikaere Beattie goals) def NORTHERN PRIDE 10 (Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi, Linc Port tries; Khan Ah-Wang goals) at Barlow Park.
Head to Head: Pride 11 Ipswich 9 Drawn 1.
ROUND SEVEN 2017.
The Jets will be looking for win number three in Cairns this week, having broken their hoodoo last year.
The Pride has a great record at home against the Jets with the Pride having won 8 out of 10 games in the North against the Jets. The Jets had a win in 2008 and then had to wait till 2016 to win in Cairns again.
The Pride have won 80 of 103 games at home since 2008 so they’re never easy at home.
The Pride are currently on two wins from six games, while the Jets sit on one win from six games.
The Pride have scored 100 points this season and had 122 scored against them. The Jets have scored 14 more points have 114 but had 39 more points than the Pride scored against them in 2017.
The Pride are coming off a loss to the Blackhawks 28-18 while the Jets lost by two points to the Tigers.
The Jets will be looking to avoid losing six games in a row since 2010. Between Round 13-19 the Jets lost to Redcliffe 18-12, Norths 40-22, Burleigh 30-22, Pride 36-8, Wynnum 38-6, Souths-Logan 34-12.
NORTHERN PRIDE
The Pride showed plenty of fight and character against the Blackhawks.
The Pride were down 16-6 at half time but then scored the first two tries after half time to take the lead.
This is where the Jets and Pride season starts to mirror each other, started slowly, got back into the game but then made some mistakes that proved costly.
The Pride made six errors in the last 15 minutes of the match the Blackhawks won 28-18.
Pride coach Ty Williams “Obviously the first half didn’t go to plan, a couple of things we spoke about that we didn’t execute, even defensively, so given that headstart we did a great thing to get back in the game, to get back in front,” Williams said.
“Six errors towards the end of the game gave them a sniff and they’re too good of a side.”
PRIDE PLAYERS TO WATCH
William Bugden: Bugden is the Pride forward leader. He was the Tweed’s player of the year last year. He has moved to Cairns where he earned a train and trial deal with the Cowboys which has seen him learning from Matt Scott. Bugden has set himself the goal of 150 meters a match for the Pride. He came up short last week against Townsville with only 135 meters. Bugden had four tackle breaks and 41 tackles.
Patrick Mago: The Cowboys’ contracted Mago is a big strong unit. No better example of that then in the last game against the Blackhawks when Mago gets the ball and despite four Blackhawks climbing on top of him he keeps his legs driving to score. Mago had 140 meters, one line break and eight tackle breaks.
Khan Ah Wang: Ah Wang is a former Ipswich Jet who loves two things. Putting up bombs that may hit planes and taking intercepts.
Against the Blackhawks the Pride struggled to get off their line and defend off-loads and short passes. The Jets love to off-load and keep the ball alive. This could spell danger for the Pride.
IPSWICH JETS
The Jets got close against the Tigers but it wasn’t enough to win.
What the Jets did well was take better options in attack and not force the ball. The Jets know what to do but they get a bit too excited and want it now.
The Jets had 56% of the ball, missed less tackles and had less ineffective tackles.
Tyson Lofipo was outstanding, he played the whole first half and was monumental in his runs into the Tigers forwards. Playing 62 minutes, 12 runs, 151 meters, four tackle breaks, two off-loads and 21 tackles.
Billy McConnachie is in doubt with a knee injury sustained in the Tigers clash.
JETS PLAYERS TO WATCH
TYSON LOFIPO
Tyson has played 142 games for the Jets; this year he has been outstanding. Tyson’s foot work gets plenty of attention but for a big man in the middle his defence is outstanding Tyson has made 110 tackles this year and only missed five with four ineffective.
WES CONLON
Wes Conlon is pivotal to what the Jets do, he’s enthusiastic player and great at backing up the play up the middle. Conlon scored a try backing up off a McConnachie kick on Saturday. This season Wes has made 49 runs with 22 tackle breaks.
MICHAEL PURCELL
Purcell has scored five tries this year from six games. He’s a freakish talent because of where he pops up. He doesn’t just score tries down the left hand side. He jumped on a bouncing ball on Saturday and was gone- 15m in a few seconds and a try. Purcell has now scored 18 tries in 20 games for the Jets.
It’s probably not must win, but another loss and you start drinking on credit you might not be able to pay.
The Jets need to relax and play footy.