Selection headache
THE Northern Pride's selection headache turned into a belting migraine yesterday, with coach Andrew Dunemann rating this week's 17 the toughest of the season to pick.
With the Pride having overcome its injury crisis after bolstering the team with new additions Chris Afamasaga, Jamie Frizzo and Rodney Griffin, Queensland Cup selection was meant to become easier.
But the allocation of five Cowboys to the Pride side for Saturday's match against Redcliffe left Dunemann with a selection dilemma.
"Some blokes that played for us last week when we ground that good win out (against Mackay) won't be playing for us (on Saturday)," Dunemann said.
Cowboys Ty Williams, Jackson Nicolau, Ben Vaeau, Matthew Bartlett and Scott Bolton will head to Cairns on Friday ahead of the clash with the Dolphins, who are one of the competition’s heavyweights.
Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia has won the hooking spot back from Jason Roos, although the battle for the No. 9 jersey is not yet over.
"It's nowhere near settled on who will be there regularly," Dunemann said.
To'oto'o-ulugia made his Pride debut against Ipswich but Roos was back in the team for last week's game against the Cutters.
"Quincy would have been picked last week too if not for off-field reasons," Dunemann said of a minor infraction.
New signing Rodney Griffin’s debut has been delayed but he will instead turn out for Cairns in the Foley Shield clash against Mackay.
"I would have played him on Saturday night if we'd not had so many Cowboys," Dunemann said.
"We're lucky at the moment that we’ve got past that bit of an injury run."
With the Foley Shield clash a curtain-raiser to the Pride's game, Dunemann is certain to run an eye over Griffin and another newcomer, Jamie Frizzo, when they turn out for Cairns.
The Pride will run without Chris Sheppard at training early this week while he is in camp with the Queensland Residents.
"We need to be able to play without Shep," Dunemann said of his captain.
"I wouldn't say he's been our best player but he's probably the most important cog in the team.
"You don't know what's around the corner."
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