Wounded Pride shot down
NORTHERN Pride coach Andrew Dunemann faces a selection nightmare this week as injuries threaten to derail the club's Queensland Cup campaign.
The Pride lost their grand final qualifier 34-16 to the Ipswich Jets at Ipswich on Saturday, with a likely season-ending knee injury to Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia compounding their halfback problems.
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To'oto'o-ulugia was brought into the starting halfback role for Saturday's match after Chris Sheppard failed to overcome a foot injury.
Dunemann said yesterday Sheppard is highly unlikely to play in Brisbane against Souths Logan this weekend. Form forwards Mark Cantoni (shoulder) and Rod Griffin (concussion) are also in doubt.
Luke Millwood will come into calculations for the No. 7 jersey but is no certainty because he has played just two games in Queensland Cup this season after joining the Pride midway through the year.
Sheppard's absence and To'oto'o-ulugia’s early retirement from the match left the Pride rudderless, especially late in the tackle count when they needed leadership in the halves.
"I can't imagine (Sheppard) will play this week. He's extremely doubtful," Dunemann said.
"(Millwood) will come into calculations definitely. I'll try to explore everything I can but he's definitely one that comes to mind.
"We're going to have to come up with something.
"The first thing we need is a halfback to direct around the pack."
The Pride trailed 18-10 at half-time, a scoreline that probably flattered the Jets after they opened their account with an 80m intercept try and again just before the break thanks to some flimsy defence.
Hezron Murgha had a try disallowed in the 30th minute - probably the right decision as he looked to have fumbled the ball over the line, although the referee's decision not to refer it to the video official was puzzling.
Adam Mills put the ball over the line in the 48th minute but a double-movement was ruled.
While they maintained composure when Souths Logan regained the lead in their first semi-final appearance the previous week, Pride players were at sixes and sevens on Saturday, Dunemann saying they had lost confidence in each other.
"We're pretty disappointed as you'd imagine but we now need to get ourselves back up and we have a big game to prepare for this week.
"I think the effort was there, it was just channelled the wrong way.
"I just don't think anyone had any confidence in the bloke next to them because of that lack of direction.''
While they have played - and beaten - Souths Logan three times this season, Dunemann said there was not the same confidence heading into the match after Saturday's loss.
"We were terrible, we were ordinary," Dunemann said.
"It's frustrating because all I want is someone to go out there and do what we do at training."
"We were all over the shop, especially in the last 30 minutes. (The game plan) went out the window, it wasn't good."
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So close: Northern Pride winger Hezron Murgha skips over in the corner against the Jets but the referee called no try on Saturday afternoon. Picture: WARREN KEIR/SMPIMAGES.COM
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