Norths are focused on taking a four-game winning streak into their mid-season Hostplus Cup holiday after extending their run over Townsville Blackhawks yesterday.
The Devils scrapped to a 26-16 win at Bishop Park – their third consecutive win for coach Dave Elliott and their eighth consecutive win over the Blackhawks.
The Devils will meet the Jets at Ipswich next Sunday afternoon before they face two consecutive byes, leaving the club without a game in 19 days.
Elliott has stressed the importance of his players building momentum into the long break and their 6-3 win-loss record has the Devils in the top four.
They had to shake off the Blackhawks who made a strong bid to end their long losing streak against Norths.
The Devils-Blackhawks history has been odd.
The Blackhawks won the first six games against the Devils after entering the competition in 2015, inflicting some heavy losses, but Norths have won the last eight games.
The Devils broke their drought in 2018 with a team including Herbie Farnworth on the wing and Gehamat Shibasaki in the centres.
Shibasaki, who played in the NRL for South Sydney last round, was in a Blackhawks jersey yesterday as the visitors tested Norths.
The Devils had cruised to a 6-0 lead after two minutes when prop Cooper Jenkins scored his third try in two games, again proving too powerful off captain Keirran Moseley’s short dummy-half pass.
The Devils looked in control at halftime with a 16-6 lead off two tries from centre Jordan Lipp.
The first came in the 14th minute when Lipp’s fingertips controlled an enterprising short kick from Dolphins NRL backrower Oryn Keeley, who continues to shine for the Devils.
The second came in the 38th minute when Lipp placed himself perfectly for an excellent pass from five-eighth Gerome Burns.
But this wasn’t going to be an easy night for Norths off the back of their 62-point onslaught against premiers Brisbane Tigers last weekend.
The Blackhawks were impressive in the second half, dominating possession and field position to put the home team under pressure.
Scores were tied after 13 minutes of the second half before the Devils found their way out.
Burns was again on the spot when the Blackhawks spilled halfback Jack Wright’s kick in the 60th minute. Burns claimed the loose ball for a 20-metre dash to the line.
The Devils had to wait until the last four minutes to put the game out of reach when Keeley created something from nothing.
He bumped off a tackle 35 metres out from the tryline and gathered speed quickly, finding Lipp with a miraculous offload before Lipp gave his own short pass for Christian’s finish in the corner.
The Devils were aided by impressive defence that enabled them to maintain the competition’s best defensive record.
“The Blackhawks played very well and we had to dig deep to get away from them in the second half,” coach Elliott said.
“Our defence again helped and that’s been a focus for us in every game this season.
“We know that we have a lot of improvement ahead but I was pleased with the way the players kept working even when things were tough.”
Norths again welcomed two-time premiership skipper Jack Ahearn off the bench in the second half during a team performance that showcased Norths’ strengths.
The Devils continue to get excellent service from their strong middles including Tuki Simpkins, Jenkins, Eddie Blacker and Sam Elliott.
The all-Dolphins NRL starting backrow of Keeley, Mason Teague and Jeremiah Simbiken have been embraced by Devils fans while James Flack’s energy from the bench has helped the forward pack.
The backline has featured players racking up impressive statistics.
Burns (83 points) is the competition’s leading pointscorer while Lipp (10 tries) and winger Manase Kaho (nine) have the first two places in the tryscorers’ tally.
Around them, two-time premiership centre Jacob Gagan is among the most consistent players in the league patrolling the right edge between Burns and Kaho.
NORTHS DEVILS 26 (Jordan Lipp 2, Cooper Jenkins, Gerome Burns, Julian Christian tries, Burns 3 goals) bt TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 16 (Lennix Tovo 2, Edward Hampson tries, Matthew Wright 2 goals) at Bishop Park.
Photo: Alan Drinnen
