2019 Year in Review: Norths Devils
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Norths Devils had their best Intrust Super Cup season in seven years, making the finals for the first time since 2012. The Devils, under the guidance of Rohan Smith, were consistent and put in strong performances from Round 1 until the end.
With the 2019 Intrust Super Cup season having drawn to a close, we take a look back through the year that was for all 14 clubs to see what went right, what went wrong, and what the clubs may focus on heading into the 2020 season.
The 2019 Year in Review series continues with the Devils.
The season by the numbers
Final position on the ladder
5th
Regular season
- Won: 15
- Drawn: 0
- Lost: 8
Home and away record
- Home: 8-3
- Away: 7-5
Scoring
- Scored: 619
- Conceded: 477
- For and against: 142
Players in focus
Standout player
Herbie Farnworth was one of the most dangerous players during the 2019 Intrust Super Cup season. The English 19-year-old's statistics were extremely impressive; he finished the season near the top of the competition ladder for tries, goals, points and line breaks. Most notably, the flying winger, who is contracted to the Brisbane Broncos, scored a whopping 20 tries in 16 games - only outdone by three others, and kicked 62 goals. The combination of tries and goals meant Farnworth scored 204 points - the third most in the competition behind Sunshine Coast's Todd Murphy and Petero Civoniceva Medal winner Jamal Fogarty.
Tries: 20
Goals: 62
Goal conversion rate: 75.6 per cent
Tackle breaks: 64
Tackles: 61
Linebreaks: 18
Average run metres: 136.2 metres
Best of 2019: Norths Devils
Notable player achievements and milestones
- Connor Broadhurst - XXXX Queensland Residents selection and 100 Intrust Super Cup games
- Herbie Farnworth - Devils Bob Bax Most Promising Club Player Award, NRL debut for Brisbane Broncos, Devils Top Points Scorer and Top Try Scorer
- Jack Ahearn - Devils Intrust Super Cup Old Boys Player of the Year, Devils Intrust Super Cup Player of the Year and 100 Intrust Super Cup games
- Troy Dargan - Devils Intrust Super Cup Old Boys Best Back, NRL contract with South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Ethan Bullemor - Queensland Under 20 selection
- Kobe Hetherington - Queensland Under 20 selection
- Jordan Riki - Junior Kiwis selection
- Brandon Lee - 50 Intrust Super Cup games
- Zach Strasser - 100 Intrust Super Cup games
- Nixon Putt - Devils Intrust Super Cup Old Boys Best Forward, PNG Kumuls selection
- Michael Sio - Devils Intrust Super Cup Players' Player
- Paul Ulberg - Cook Islands selection, World Cup Nines Team of the Tournament selection
Key factor to season result
Consistency
The Devils had their best Intrust Super Cup season in seven years, making the finals for the first time since 2012. The 2019 squad, under the guidance of coach Rohan Smith, were consistent and put in strong performances from Round 1 until being eliminated by Easts Tigers in the first week of finals. But, when it comes to finals, no team is a sure thing and the Devils will no doubt look to make the big dance - or get even closer - in 2020.
Looking ahead to 2020
The Devils will be looking to continue this year's success in 2020. The Devils' core playing group remains, including skipper Jack Ahearn, and Smith told Norths Devils Media this would benefit the Devils moving forward. “We’ve added some players in the off-season, but there is a lot of continuity in the group which is a positive for us,” Smith said. “We’ve got a lot of existing relationships among the group and we have an understanding about each other so we can hit the ground running." The Devils will welcome recruits, former Redcliffe Dolphins skipper Bryce Donovan, Tony Tumusa and popular forward Carne Doyle-Manga, who is returning to Bishop Park after a season in the United Kingdom.
