A well-prepared Northern Pride has continued the Ipswich Jets horror run on the road in Cairns that has now stretched back to 2008.
The Pride started with their best half of football all year and for the first time this season, the Jets were kept scoreless in a half with the Pride getting out to an 18-0 lead at the break.
It was the usual suspects for the Pride driving this performance with Sam Obst and Jason Roos both having high quality games.
Every play the Jets tried was met with stiff opposition by the Pride who placed tall outside backs in the spots where short kick offs would reach if attempted.
Pride coach Joe O'Callaghan commented in the post-game press conference; "I think 19 of their past 21 kick-offs have tried those types of scenarios and we did a bit of work on that during the week.”
The premiers now have eight wins from their past 11 games and will have some teams looking over their shoulder hoping the State Champions don’t make the finals.
The Pride defence was patient and waited for the Jets before shepherding them to the sideline.
The Jets were frustrated at not being able to play their normal style of football and didn’t adapt well; pushing passes and taking the wrong option.
The Pride welcomed Cowboy forward Scott Bolton while the Jets lost try scoring machine Marmin Barba to a tripping charge during the week.
The Pride started well when Linc Port scored his 14th try this year, out leaping the Jets and grabbing the ball then having the speed to run 90m to score. The Pride was out to 6-0 after as many minutes.
Things got worse for the Jets nine minutes later when Luke George passed inside for Vaipuna Tia Kilifi to score and it was now 12-0 to the premiers after Justin Castellaro added the extras.
Tia Kilifi benefited from another inside ball, this time from half Obst and was in for try number two under the posts and 18-0.
The Pride had put together their best half of the year while a frustrated Jets had fumbled their way through their worst half.
It took until the 63rd minute for a score change with Carlin Anderson adding to his 100 points this year by scoring try number 11 and converting to make it now 18-6 with 17 minutes to go.
The Pride was presented with two points in the 70th minute and took the option to extend their lead out to 20-6.
Ipswich got within striking distance by taking their own two points to make it 20-8 with seven minutes to go.
The Pride would endure a nervous finish when Brendon McGrady got across a try and the Jets were now only down 20-14 and pressing hard for more points. However, they fell just short as they left themselves too much to do at the end.
The Pride however held on to complete their 10th win against the Jets from 18 games.
This week they will come up against the Easts Tigers while the Ipswich Jets tackle the Souths Logan Magpies at home.
NORTHERN PRIDE 20 (Vaipuna Tia Kilifi 2, Linc Port tries; Justin Castellaro 4 goals) def IPSWICH JETS 14 (Carlin Anderson, Brandon McGrady tries; Carlin Anderson 3 goals) at Barlow Park.
Final teams
Northern Pride: 1. Hezron Murgha 2. Linc Port 3. Brett Anderson (c) 4. Justin Castellaro 5. Luke George 6. Ryan Ghietti 7. Sam Obst 8. Jack Svendsen 9. Jason Roos (c) 10. Scott Bolton 11. Vaipuna Tia Kilifi 12. Graham Clark 14. Keelan White 15. Tom Hancock 16. Sheldon Powe Hobbs 17. Alex Starmer 20. David Murphy
Ipswich Jets: 1. Carlin Anderson 2. Richard Pandia 3. Chris Walker 4. Nemani Valekapa 5. Brandon McGrady 6. Josh Cleeland 7. Dane Phillips 19. Haydan Lipp 9. Landon Hayes 10. Rod Griffin 11. Sam Martin 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Keiron Lander (c) 14. Fakahoko Teutau 15. Kurtis Lingwoodock 16. Billy McConnachie 17. Liam Capewell
