http://www.qt.com.au/news/premiers-own-worst-enemies-in-third-qld-cup-defeat/2984196/
THE Northern Pride have stolen their first win at the Ipswich Jets home ground.
Two tries in 10 minutes put the Jets on the right foot before a second half fightback ensured Northern Pride defeated Ipswich 26-24.
It was the first time the Pride have won at North Ipswich Reserve.
Co-coach Shane Walker said the Jets were their own worst enemies as they recorded their third loss of the season.
“We certainly did enough to win the game,” he said.
“It was more of a case of us beating ourselves than them winning the game.”
Walker said the home side should have capitalised on a strong start to the game.
“We certainly did enough to win it,” he said.
“We scored five tries to four and led 10-nil at one stage. We probably should have amassed more points at that point.”
Fullback Carlin Anderson had a mixed afternoon in his 50th appearance in the green and white.
He scored a try in the sixth minute to bring up his 34th try for the Jets.
It was a poor performance with the boot which saw Haydan Lipp share the goal-kicking duties with the Brisbane Broncos contracted player.
A failed conversion attempt by Anderson from in front of the goal posts would come back to haunt the Jets as two points proved the difference at full time.
Lipp was called on to add the only two successful kicks for Ipswich, as former Jet Khan Ahwag slotted four conversions and a penalty kick for the Northern Pride to sink the Jets in the second half.
With two conversions from six attempts last week against Souths Logan, Walker said a lack of confidence was behind Anderson’s recent form.
“He has always done a great job for us,” Walker said. “Probably after having missed a couple this week and last week he may have lost a bit of confidence.
“He’ll do a bit of work on it (at training) and concentrate a bit harder on that.”
With Lipp and Marmin Barba both able kickers Walker was confident the side had plenty of depth in their kicking game.
“(Lipp) has a great kicking game,” he said.
“Marmin is a reluctant kicker but he’s very solid as well. At the end of the day we shouldn’t have to rely on kicks to win (the game).”
Ipswich have now scored 122 points to showcase their attacking ability but have struggled to keep out the opposition with 123 points conceded.
Most of those points have been given away in the second half, highlighting the Jets need to finish games as strongly as they start them.
Despite the mixed start to the 2016 season, Walker said the defending premiers were moving in the right direction.
“Whether we are at home or away we always want to play well and we did that in patches (on Saturday),” he said. “By and large in the games we’ve lost we haven’t been played off the pitch.
“It would have been nice to walk away with the win but we are pretty happy with where we are at.”
The Jets were without former Newcastle Knights recruit David Fa’alogo, who was injured in the lead up to the game.
“David injured his back in the warm up,” Walker said.
“By all indications he will be fine for the game next week.”
The Jets were bolstered by the return of captain Dane Phillips who missed their last game with food poisoning.
This weekend the Jets will travel to Dolphin Oval to take on Redcliffe.
The Dolphins recorded their second victory of the season on Saturday with a 16-12 win against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Intrust Super Cup: Northern Pride 26 (Ryan Ghietti, Jack Svendsen, Khan Ahwang, Colin Wilke tries; Khan Ahwang 5 goals) def Ipswich Jets 24 (Rory Humphreys, Carlin Anderson, Marmin Barba, Richard Pandia, Dane Phillips tries; Haydan Lipp 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.