By Adam Sheldon

With their chances of making the Hospital Cup finals slipping away, Norths host Souths this weekend in what is shaping up as a pivotal clash for head coach Dan Ritchie’s side.

Sitting eighth on the ladder with 19 points, Norths trail fourth-placed Souths by 11 points heading into Round 12. A loss to Souths would extend the gap further, and leave Norths with a mountain to climb in terms of finals qualification.

“I think it’s probably an accurate statement to say that we’ve got to win every game, but I think as long as we’re staying in the hunt and close by, we are still a massive chance,” Ritchie said.

“We certainly believe that. But it is a very important game this weekend, we have just got to make sure we’re putting everything into it.”

Souths will arrive full of confidence after back-to-back wins over Sunnybank and GPS. The teams last met in round three, with Norths edging a 34-31 win in Caboolture, meaning the Eagles will be chasing a double over the visitors.

“It would be nice to do the double. Our last game was in really trying conditions. We led at halftime, and they came back, but we held on,” Norths head coach said.

“We’re well aware of what a quality side they are. They have taken giant steps forward under coach Rama Chand this year, who is bringing them into a more modern approach.

“They were where we are now a couple of years ago – bringing a young group through and trying to modernise the system. We have a lot of respect for them, and even though we beat them last time, we’re taking nothing for granted.”

Souths’ physical forward pack will again pose a major challenge, but Ritchie is backing his team’s fast-paced style to make an impact – if they can match the Magpies’ physicality.

“We were off the pace against Uni in terms of defence last week… we have to match Souths in that regard and with our first-up contact,” he said.

“When we have the ball, it’s about playing our way – we like to move the ball fast. If our forwards give us the possession we need, and our game drivers put us in the right parts of the field, we can put pressure on them.”

This weekend’s match will also feature a host of Reds players, who returned to the competition last round. Norths have Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Will McCulloch, while Souths are expected to field Connor Vest and John Bryant.

“It really becomes a different competition when the Super Rugby guys come back,” Ritchie said.

“We don’t get a lot back, but the ones we do get add massive value.”

Norths’ younger brigade will also be looking to impress, with several names emerging as future Super Rugby prospects. Inside centre Ryan Heaton, just 19, is already training with the Reds academy and is pushing for national U20s selection.

“I honestly don’t know how he didn’t make the Reds 19s last year,” Ritchie said. “He’d be in the top two or three centres in the comp right now.”

Fullback/winger Alex Flanagan-Smith and flanker Leo Langbridge have also caught the eye – the former a leading points scorer with sevens potential, and the latter an engine-room player Ritchie described as “super physical” and constantly improving.

It’s this mix of experienced returnees and rising stars that gives Ritchie faith his team can still make a run for the finals.

“We believed that at the start of the year we were good enough to make the four,” he said.

“We want to make the four every year and go a lot further than that.”