Written By Devils Intern – Joseph Maranta
The off-season is finally over, and Cup footy has officially returned to Bishop Park, as an inter-club trial saw players from Wests Brisbane Panthers and Valleys Diehards face off against one another on a glorious Friday evening under lights.
It was a glimpse into the forthcoming season, offering fans and coaching staff an early look at the squad’s depth. New recruits wasted no time making their presence felt, showcasing their skill, physicality, and work ethic in their first outing at Bishop Park. With a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging prospects, the trial provided valuable insight into potential combinations, positional battles, and the overall intensity expected in the months ahead.
Though scores were irrelevant in this inter-club trial, after 60 minutes, it was the Wests Brisbane Panthers who prevailed, with the final score finishing 5 tries to Valley’s 2.
Devils head coach Rohan Smith was impressed with the effort shown by both sides and commended the players’ conditioning for their first bout of the season.
“It was great to see such a physical match. The referee stayed out of the game and let the boys play tonight.”
“There were some good showings from train and trial, as well as contracted players from both clubs tonight. I’m incredibly thankful for the contributions made by both the Panthers and Diehards.”
Young utility Laulato Salei was particularly impressive, securing a double and causing numerous turnovers in an emphatic performance. Only 19 years of age, the young Devil had his praises sung by the head coach post-game.
“Loto is a versatile young player. We had him playing dummy half earlier in the game, but he shone in the centres as well towards the end of the match.”
Upcoming Games – Get Behind Your Devils!
The Norths Devils’ first match against a Hostplus Cup opponent will be this Saturday at 4:30p.m. at Sunshine Coast Stadium, where we take on the Falcons in another pre-season hit-out.
Next, our first home trial of the season will be on Sunday, February 23, at Bishop Park, where we will face the Redcliffe Dolphins. This will be a massive test for the squad, and we need our Devils faithful to pack out Bishop Park to set the tone for 2024!
And the rivalry doesn’t stop there. In Round 1 of the Hostplus Cup, we kick off our season with a Grand Final Rematch against Redcliffe on Sunday, March 9 at Bishop Park. With premiership pride and early-season momentum on the line, this is a game you won’t want to miss.
Be there, wear your Devils colours, and help us defend our home turf as we look to launch the 2025 campaign!
Devils / Wests Brisbane Panthers Line Up
2 – Trevor Moniea
3 – Blayden Dodd – Train & Trail
4 – Jack Stafford – Train & Trial
5 – Andy Jackson
6 – Kobey Timms
7 – Marouna Benioni
8 – Taylor Wright – Train & Trail
9 – Lauloto Salei – Devils Contracted
10 – Jerome Veve – Devils Contracted
11 – Pat Merlehan
12 – Isaac Perrett – Devils Contracted
13 – Tom McKenzie – Devils Contracted
14 – Savaan Tahere – Train & Trial
15 – Jake-Lane Fowler – Train & Trail
16 – Max Pakai
17 – Daniel Porter
18 – Kyle Van Klaveren – Train & Trial
19 – Jackson Shereb – Devils Contracted
20 – Kelepi Faukafa
3 – Bermetti Graff
Devils / Valleys Diehard Line Up
1 – Kane Rushton – Devils Contracted
2 – Christian Gale – Devils Contracted
3 – Andre Niko – Devils Contracted
4 – Jacob Reedy-Bartlett – Train & Trial
5 – Tyrese Coromandel
6 – Jayden Smith – Devils Contracted
7 – Isaac Fels
8 – Kealhan O’Brien – Train & Trial
9 – Sammy Stephens
10 – Rory Togiatu
11 – Jayden Weir – Train & Trial
12 – Junior Taungatua – Devils Contracted
13 – Zac McGuire – Devils Contracted
14 – Ryan Ballin
15 – Marc Lawrence
16 – Keon Saunders
17 – Harry Tombs – Train & Trail
18 – Matt Gill
19 – Josh Hill
20 – Poasi Manu – Devils Contracted
