Ex-Storm Anderson ready to lead Northern Pride
CENTRE Brett Anderson has been handed the captaincy duties for the Northern Pride's trial against the FNQ Indigenous All Stars at Barlow Park on Saturday night.
Anderson missed two months of preseason training after work commitments took him to Darwin and wasn’t part of the line-up that beat the North Queensland Cowboys under-20s 30-22 last Saturday.
But Pride coach David Maiden said the former Melbourne Storm player was ready for a hit-out.
"He missed those couple of months because of work, but his first session back, it was like he had never been away at all," Maiden said.
"It shows what a professional he is and why he’s part of our leadership group."
Anderson joins forwards Mark Dalle Cort and Alex Starmer as the only Pride regulars in the side, with fringe players filling the other positions.
Five-eighth Troyson Bassini will partner Tully’s Shaun Nona in the halves, while Maddie Oosen will start at hooker after being used as a substitute against the Cowboys under-20s.
Saturday’s game will be the best chance for many players to impress Maiden and prove they are worthy of a permanent spot on the Pride roster.
"They’ve been training hard since November to get this opportunity. I expect everybody to do their jobs – nothing more, nothing less," Maiden said. Also included in the line-up is former NRL winger Brenton Bowen, who has been named on a six-man bench.
Pride squad: 1 Ben Fitzpatrick, 2 Francis Mosby, 3 Brett Anderson (c), 4 Rickki Sutherland, 5 Justin Castellaro, 6 Troyson Bassani, 7 Shaun Nona, 8 Mark Dalle Cort, 9 Maddie Oosen, 10, Alex Starmer, 11 Justin Dolan, 12 Joel Marama, 13 Brent Oosen. Interchange: 14 Jamie Kerwick, 15 Brenton Bowen, 16 Wees Nawia, 17 Billy McConachie, 18 Rohan Schultz, 19 Aaron Binawel.
FNQ Indigenous All Stars: Karl Adams, Hayden Brown, Maurice Burke, Shemiah Chinfat, Darren Cobb, Stanley Dai, Peter English, Denley Foster, Dane Furphy, Jovan Gibson, David Grainer, Miles Kerindun, Elron Lawrence, Fitzroy Lawrence, Daryl Lightning, Josh Mene, Densen Misi, Milton Mossman, Charles Murgha, Tim Oberleuter, Clargie Saltmere, Steve Singleton, Santoi Thaiday, Peter Tuccandidgee.
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Leadership: Brett Anderson will captain the Pride against the FNQ Indigenous All Stars at Barlow Park on Saturday night.
