By LIZ MOORE

Was it a coincidence Norths won their first game of the season when Nick Chapman re-entered their ranks on the weekend?  

The versatile player, who played fullback in the 36-22 defeat of Wests on the weekend, laughed off the coincidence.

“We found a lot of form last week against Bond,” Chapman said. “I think this week we just kind of put it together. 

“A bit more structure helped, and a bit more communication from the back and everything just came into place for the weekend. 

“It helped playing at home as well,” Chapman said of the Heritage Day at Norths, which saw the team play in jerseys from the 1995-1998 era.

Setting up a couple of nice tries from the back, Chapman made his return to the Nest after five months of rehabilitation from AC shoulder surgery. He was happy with how his body held up under game conditions.

“I had it strapped up nice and tight and a bit of padding on it, but I felt really good out there. I didn’t feel weak at all so hopefully it stays like that for the rest of the season.”

Chapman is back after an in-form season last year got him picked for Brisbane City in the NRC, while also training with the Reds 7s pre-season QAS program before he injured his shoulder. 

A noted 7s player, Chapman has toured America and Scotland with the Queensland 7s. For now though, Chapman is firmly focussed on 15-a-side and getting his beloved Norths back up the leader-board. 

“If everyone stays fit and healthy and we play like we did on the weekend, I’ve a really good feeling and good chance we’ll be top four this season playing in the finals. But we’ve just got to take it week by week this season, game by game.”

Chapman is relieved to have a bye this weekend to rest his shoulder and so the team can regroup before taking on in-form Easts at Bottomley Park.

“That will be a tough game. And that’s why I was glad we got the bye so we have two weeks to prepare for them because they’ve been playing unreal footy lately.

“We’ve got a few people in line to target and try and shut down, especially their halfback, Eli Pilz, ‘cause he’s an ex-Noosa Dolphins player,” Chapman said of his former club-mate. 

Chapman grew up at Tewantin and played for the Noosa Dolphins before moving to Brisbane to play Premier grade for Norths in 2015. 

As for his senior position in the team, Chapman is versatile. While best known as a halfback, the playmaker also plays 10 and 15.

“I’m happy to mix up positions and play around depending on what team we’re playing and what game style we want to play,” he said.

“Especially with our No.9, Liam Prendergast, and No.10, Jacob Prideaux, playing really good footy at the moment, I was happy to play out the back at 15.

“We’ve got a lot of good new guys at the club, a few fresh bloods. So it’s really good to be out the back with them and just talking to them and guiding them around, and let them learn and play their footy. 

“They’ve been playing really good footy, especially our inside and outside centres.

“It’s good to be at the back and just try and control it all.”

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