Coach Dave Elliott insists his Norths Devils have improvement ahead after they surged to their seventh consecutive win in last night’s 36-10 victory over the Blackhawks in Townsville.
The Devils skipped to a 24-0 lead at halftime in the winter rain before the Blackhawks tested them with a second-half fightback.
The Devils closed out the game through tries to Blake Paskins and Sam Elliott to retain top spot on the Hostplus Cup table – equal with Northern Pride on points – ahead of two consecutive Sunday home games.
Not many Devils’ teams have won seven games straight in the Queensland Cup era, dating back to 1996.
The 2021 premiers won 10 straight in a dominant season – breaking the record of the 2005 team that had won eight games.
The 2022 team won seven in a row, capped off with a grand final triumph in one of the most famous streaks in club history.
This seven-game streak has been characterised by highlight reel moments in attack and power from the Devils’ forward pack underpinned by fierce defence that has held teams to an average of 15.2 points across the season.
And it’s been continued without injured players Gerome Burns and Eddie Blacker.
But there have also been the clunky moments that have reinforced to Elliott, his coaching staff and the Devils players that they are still building into the season.
“We needed a game like that last night. Townsville are always a tough side and they really put it to us especially in that second half,” Elliott said.
“We started the game well and we finished well but we know we still have a lot of work to do.
“Our defence has been pleasing and there is a real commitment among the players to defend their line which has helped us all season.”
The Devils have won the last nine matches against the Blackhawks in a strange history between the teams. The Blackhawks won their first six matches against Norths from their 2015 debut but had not won again since.
The Devils started well when captain Kierran Moseley dived over from dummy-half in the second minute.
It took another 15 minutes before the Devils crossed again after a sweeping movement down the right side ended with edge forward Jeremiah Simbiken’s double-cut out pass for winger Manase Kaho to beat three defenders.
That put Kaso back into a tie for the competition’s try-scoring tally alongside Devils fullback Jordan Lipp. They are three ahead of the next player from opposition teams.
Winger Andre Niko scored his first try for the Devils four minutes later when he jumped to reel in Jack Ahearn’s perfect kick for an 18-0 lead thanks to Lipp’s sideline conversion.
When Sam Elliott scored the first of his two tries in the minutes before halftime, the Devils looked capable of blowing the doors off the Blackhawks.
But the team that gave the Devils a difficult time at Bishop Park earlier in the winning streak showed real intent in the second half.
The Devils were tested as the Blackhawks put together an excellent long-range try before another try brought the score to 24-10.
With 13 minutes to go, the Devils opted for a penalty goal.
The players joined in a huddle while Lipp put them ahead 26-10 in a moment that changed the game’s momentum.
The Devils then scored a good try through Paskins in the centres before Elliott cashed in with a determined effort off Moseley’s pass.
Norths have been well-served across the field as coach Elliott has tried to manage his winning squad through the middle of the season.
Hooker Zak McGuire made his season debut last night, joining from the bench and making a break within minutes.
Tireless props Tuki Simpkins and Cooper Jenkins have led from the front this season alongside Moseley in the front row. The all-Dolphins NRL backrow of Simbiken, Mason Teague and Oryn Keeley have been impressive for the Devils.
Ahearn and Julian Christian again partnered in the halves last night following the loss of Burns two weeks ago.
The rain tested the footing for both teams on a field that held up incredibly well after it hosted four days of the schools’ Confraternity Carnival last week.
The Devils will take on PNG Hunters at Bishop Park next Sunday afternoon before hosting Redcliffe Dolphins seven days later.
NORTHS DEVILS 36 (Sam Elliott 2, Kierran Moseley, Manase Kaho, Andre Niko, Blake Paskins tries, Jordan Lipp 5 goals, Niko goal) bt TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 10 (Jake Riley, Patrick Kaufusi tries, Bailey Biondi-Odo goal) at Jack Manski Oval.
Photo by Alan Drinnen
