Maiden selection headache for Northern Pride coach
DAVID Maiden faces his first big test as Pride coach today when he names his side for the club's Queensland Cup opener against premiers Sunshine Coast.
While Maiden has a fair idea of his ideal side, he faces some last-minute tweaking today when the Cowboys announce the players who will be allocated to the Pride.
While there has been plenty of speculation about the prospect of gun signing Willie Mason playing in Cairns, it is understood both he and Carl Webb will be selected by the Cowboys for Friday’s NRL opener against Brisbane.
But other Pride players will be pushed out of the top 17.
"The trouble is there are going to be guys sitting on the sidelines this weekend that definitely don’t deserve to be there and that will be the case for the next couple of weeks,’’ Maiden said.
"It’s going to be tough but how they react to adversity or a negative decision is how we’ll judge them.
"Hopefully, they know by now what it entails – coming up with 17 out of 30 just doesn’t go.
"And add in the Cowboys, it’s just another variable in the equation.
"There are going to be guys that miss out but the simple fact is we use them all throughout the year, they’ve just got to be ready when they get their opportunity.’’
While the allocation of players from the Cowboys is likely to determine the make-up of the forward pack, Maiden’s most difficult decision has come with the balance of his back three.
With regular fullback Chey Bird still nursing a broken hand, Maiden has a tough decision at fullback and on the wings.
Brenton Bowen is certain to nab one of those positions and his left-side combination with Brett Anderson against Windsor put forward a strong case to leave him on the left wing.
Brothers player Ben Fitzpatrick wore the No. 1 jersey in the final trial against Windsor and Taputoa Rea and Kaine Manihera have also put their hand up for inclusion.
"(The back three is) definitely the hardest, that’s the one that’s going to cause the most headaches at the moment,’’ Maiden said.
"I’m almost certain what I’m going to go with.
"It’s a tough one.
"I know whoever we put in there is going to do the job for us, so that’s the most important thing.’’
The Pride starts its season against the Sunshine Coast on Saturday at Barlow Park.
8 Tickets are available online at www.northernpride.com.au.
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In the running: Ben Fitzpatrick faces a nervous wait to find out if he has made the Pride's team for its opening match against the Sunshine Coast. Picture: SEAN DAVEY
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