Premiers set for Seagulls after Dolphins Draw
Norths hit the road for the first time in their Hostplus Cup premiership defence tomorrow aiming to continue the signs of improvement that flashed through the heat of last Sunday’s grand final rematch.
The Devils gained their first points of the season with a 30-all draw with Redcliffe Dolphins in stifling conditions at Bishop Park.
Tomorrow, the Devils take on Tweed Seagulls at Piggabeen in another clash of last season’s finalists.
The trip over the NSW border will be the first of two consecutive away games for the Devils, who head to Logan the following Saturday to meet the Magpies in Rivalry Round.
Devils coach Dave Elliott said his team continued to make progress into the new season, shown in the patches of attack and defence that propelled the premiers to a 20-point lead over the Dolphins last Sunday.
“There are parts of our game that are still coming together and this is another chance against Tweed to improve,” Elliott said.
“Tweed are always a good team and they’re hard to beat at home so we’re looking forward to the challenge there.”
The Devils have been excellent at times in their opening games against 2022 top-two teams Burleigh and Redcliffe, showcasing the spark that has become familiar to Norths fans.
It took 19 minutes into last weekend’s clash for the Devils to unleash another long-range try, this time a 75-metre sprint that included a run from winger Tony Tumusa and a pass for halfback Jock Madden to score.
Madden crossed again through an intercept pass late in the first half before Jon Reuben scored another try, this time gathering in a kick in the second half.
Connor Broadhurst’s scheming solo run in the latter stages of the match produced a try that gave the Devils breathing room before the match finished in a draw.
The Devils’ last away game against Tweed was played at Runaway Bay last year in a memorable clash.
Floods had prevented the match being played at Piggabeen and the teams gave little away in a bruising 13-4 match that went to the Devils.