NORTHERN PRIDE v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
5.30pm, Saturday 15 March, Barlow Park
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-head: Pride 11, Redcliffe 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvPHINS
Redcliffe might be the most successful club in Cup history with five premierships, but if there is one club that’s got their measure, it’s the team from the Far North.
The Pride have notched up 11 wins compared to Redcliffe’s one, a remarkable statistic given the Dolphins’ standing in the competition.
Redcliffe’s only win over the Pride was in June 2008 at Barlow Park – they have lost 10 games against them since then.
While the statistics don’t make pretty reading for Dolphins fans, the reality is the record won’t count for a lot when the two teams take the field, particularly as Redcliffe’s lineup is vastly different to previous teams that have played the Pride.
Fullback Stewart Mills, five-eighth Zach Strasser and second-rower Sarafu Fatiaki will make their first appearances of the season for the Dolphins, who went down to PNG in the opening week before having a week to cool their heels with the round two bye.
Pride coach Jason Demetriou has named Cowboys backs Matthew Wright and Javid Bowen to return from injury, but the northern heavyweights will be without key forward Ricky Thorby after he injured his knee in last weekend’s win over the Capras.
The Mackay Cutters have a bye this weekend.
