Hostplus Cup & Colts Sides For Sunday Showdowns With Devils
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
The Mendi Blackhawks will be chasing back to back wins for the first time this season when they travel to Brisbane to face Norths in round ten of the Hostplus Cup. Aaron Payne’s side dominated the Hunters from start to finish on Friday night and he wants his troops to reproduce that same intensity, effort and execution at Bishop Park on Sunday. The coach can’t rule out late changes to the side, with possible suspension, injuries and Cowboys coming back into the line-up, likely to alter Townsville’s seventeen.
Payne’s positive the visitors will be buoyed by their impressive performance against PNG. The 54-4 victory has given the entire club a boost following four straight defeats.
“It was a win which we definitely needed, and it certainly boosted moral among the group. Not just the victory, but the way we went about it against the Hunters. That should be a major confidence booster for the players pushing forward. I think a lot of them had their best game in the black and green, but now it’s about building on that performance.”
Payne’s excepting a desperate Devils, with the 2021 and 2022 premiers in need of lift themselves after their sluggish start to the season. The hosts have lost more than half their games.
“It’s certainly a little strange to see them that far off the pace, but I can guarantee they’ll be determined to turn things around, starting with us, and we’ll need to be ready for that.”
The clash kicks off at 2.10, our under 21s will play beforehand. They return to action in the Hastings Deering Colts competition after their bye last weekend. Read the team list below.
