Round 12
Mackay Cutters 12 l. Northern Pride 18

2008 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: Australia > Queensland > State/Metropolitan Level Competition: Wizard Queensland Cup

Sheppard joins State fold
Mon June 9, 2008
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Experienced halfback Chris Sheppard has been called into the Queensland Residents team after helping the Northern Pride to yet another victory in the Wizard Cup.

Sheppard was yesterday on his way back to Cairns following the Pride's hard-fought 18-12 win over the Cutters in Mackay on Saturday night when he received a call from the QRL.

Instead of relaxing at home tonight, the former Cowboys halfback will re-pack his bags and fly to the Gold Coast to join his new Queensland teammates in camp.

Sheppard received the call up after Residents five-eighth Brad Davis was drafted into the Titans NRL team as a replacement for new Origin halfback Scott Prince.

Gee is set to use Sheppard at halfback, with Josh Lewis switching from No. 7 to five-eighth for Wednesday's 6pm clash.

Pride coach Andrew Dunemann was pleased to see Sheppard win a representative jersey.

However, Dunemann is still a bit perplexed by the omission of several more Pride players from the representative arena.

Dunemann has been most impressed with the form of fullback Chey Bird and forward Greg Byrnes this season.

In fact, Dunemann rates Byrnes as one of the top "two or three" players in the Wizard Cup.

"He's killing it. It's just unbelievable what he's doing every week," the rookie Pride coach said.

Byrnes scored the Pride's first try in Saturday's 18-12 victory over Mackay.

He also figured prominently in the lead up work which led to Jackson Nicolau's match-winning try.

Nicolau scored his second try of the match with about six minutes remaining to break the 12-12 deadlock.

Mackay had led 12-6 early in the second half.

"It was physical," Dunemann said of the bruising round 12 contest at the Mackay Junior Fields.

"There was a lot of dropped ball from both sides and a lot of blood spilt. To grind out the win was really pleasing."

The match featured some willing exchanges in the forwards.

"It was one of the most physical games we've played all year and it was probably one of best wins of the season," Dunemann said.

NORTHERN PRIDE 18 (Jackson Nicolau 2, Greg Byrnes tries; Chey Bird 3 goals) def MACKAY CUTTERS 12 (Dean Tass, George Gatis tries; Todd Seymour 2 goals) at Mackay Jnr Fields.

News Source: www.qrl.com.au

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