Norths will draw on the lessons of 2021 after stumbling into next weekend’s blockbuster finals showdown with a loss to Sunshine Coast Falcons at Bishop Park on Saturday.
The Devils will host arch-rivals Redcliffe on Sunday afternoon in a second versus third clash that shapes as the most intriguing of the first week of the Hostplus Cup finals.
But the Devils must lift on Saturday’s 42-16 loss to the Falcons that looked far worse when the visitors strolled to a 36-0 lead after just 38 minutes of the regular season finale.
The Devils have endured last-round wobbles in recent years.
In 2021, Norths had locked up the minor premiership with 15 wins from 16 matches before a shock loss to an Ipswich Jets team trying to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Devils rested seven players that night, but the team rebounded with a gritty win over Tweed Seagulls in the finals the following weekend.
Norths coach Dave Elliott said the finals were like a new season and presented the Devils with the chance to start afresh with the motivation of meeting Redcliffe.
“That wasn’t the performance we were hoping for but we know everything starts again this weekend and we’ve earned a home final against a very good team,” Elliott said.
“We know what we’re capable of as a team when we play well and we’ll talk about that this week.
“Everyone is in the game to play finals so we’re very much looking forward to this.”
Minor premiers Northern Pride will host the Falcons in the other qualifying final. Losers of both games have a second chance while the winners receive a week off and a home preliminary final.
The elimination finals will feature PNG Hunters hosting Wynnum Manly while the CQ Capras have a home match against Burleigh Bears.
The Devils secured second place with 13 wins and 7 losses – the same mark as Redcliffe – but with the advantage of a +17 points differential over the Dolphins.
The Devils went into the Falcons game with milestones among their players on Old Boys’ Day.
Captain Kierran Moseley played his 150th Cup match while Jack Ahearn broke the record for the most Cup appearances for the Devils in the Queensland Cup era, which dates to 1996.
Ahearn’s 118th match took him past Mark Vaiao on the Devils list.
Ahearn and Moseley were welcomed on to the field by Norths’ 1980 premiership captain Mark Murray and 1998 premiership captain Kevin Carmichael.
Fullback Jordan Lipp played his 50th Cup match while prop Wyatt Reynolds made his Devils debut.
But the Falcons doused the celebrations quickly with tries in the 3rd, 6th, 14th, 18th and 27th minutes to stun the healthy Bishop Park crowd. Any hope of a Devils miracle was snuffed two minutes before halftime when the Falcons crossed again.
The Devils won the second half and kept Redcliffe at bay on the ladder with tries to Ahearn, Cooper Jenkins and Manase Kaho.
