Northern Pride recruit Stig in driver's seat
RYAN Stig is no longer right under the nose of Cowboys coach Neil Henry but he reckons he's in the right place to keep his attention.
Stig completed the pre-season with the Cowboys in Townsville and took part in the club’s opening trial against the Wests Tigers in Mackay.
The former Newcastle under-20s half is now back in Northern colours but kept Henry’s attention with a strong showing for the Pride against a Cowboys combination at Barlow Park on Saturday.
"It was a good experience (playing the trial with the Cowboys) … and I’m all the better for it," Stig said.
"Hopefully, I’ll get another run there this year at some point.
"I’m not sure where I’m sitting at the moment but hopefully, if I can keep playing good, I’ll put my hand up."
Stig did himself no harm at the weekend in the Pride’s 38-24 loss to the combined Cowboys. His first-half performance, in particular, when the conditions allowed the Pride to play with width, were noticed by both Henry and Pride coach David Maiden.
"I watched the whole game and I thought he was very enthusiastic," Henry said of the 20-year-old.
"He got them around the park, threw a couple of nice passes there for some line breaks and tries so he’s certainly a player of the future."
Saturday’s game was Stig’s second for the Pride and he felt better for the run alongside captain and halfback Chris Sheppard.
"I thought I improved on the game against the Dragons," Stig said of his
latest run.
"I was a bit lost against the Dragons the first game with the boys and I thought I made a lot more improvement and I reckon we’ve got a lot more improvement than people saw at the weekend."
Both dominant players, Sheppard and Stig will work on finding an on-field balance that works for both them and the Pride.
"He’s really dominant and I’m used to being dominant as well so it’s just getting that right – a happy medium," Stig said. "I definitely reckon we clicked well on the weekend.
"Every time we have a run together it feels
better."
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In the swim: Ryan Stig is finding his feet beside Pride halfback Chris Sheppard. Picture: CHRIS HYDE
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