Welcome to Princes Palace

Article Name: A Princely Sum
Magazine: Big League
Writer: Ben Blaschke
Pages: 1 Page

WHEN Melbourne halfback Brett kimmorley announced he was joining the Northern Eales, it set in motion a series of events that have already affected at least three clubs.

    One of those is North Queensland , who wwere suddenly burdened with the prospect of losing exciting young five-eighth Scott Prince.

    Prince has been a shining light in Townsville but his sensational form over the past two months has also made him a target for the likes of Melbourne, the Eagles, Parramatta and Brisbane, according to reports.

    Prince has indicated that he would ideally like to stay with the Cowboys , which remains the most likely scenario, but financial restraints and future oppurtunitites may also play a role in his decision. Club boss Rabieh Krayam has already announced the club won't get into a high-price bidding war.

    Yet Prince, along with centre Paul Bowman who has just re-signed for three years, is a vital piece in the Cowboys' jigsaw as they begin to see the fruits of five years of labour.
    Bowman's State of Origin debut earlier this season represented a significant step for the Cowboys as the first local junior to progress through the ranks and into the representatice scene. Prince is widely tipped to be the next.

    Plyer manager Barry Collins, who represents Bowman and keeps a keen eye on Queensland's developing talent, believes that Price's signature is essential to the club's continuing progression.

    "The hardest thing from the Cowboys' perspective has always been trying to attract players to the club, but they have some potential now among their own ranks," said Collins. "Paul's progression through to Origin should pave the way for players such as Scott Prince to take that next step up."

    Coach Tim Sheens has a huge opinion of the pair and says that, although Prince had a slow start to the year, he would have benefitted enormously from this season, in which he has become a closely marked man.

    "It's been a learning year for him, he's been under a lot of pressure but he has the right attitude and could go a long way," Sheens said.

    Sheens has gone all-out in his faith in young talent, already exibiting confidence by placing young halfback Nathan Fien alongside Prince in the halves.

    "Their combination is coming alson well," said Sheens of the two Mt Isa juniors. "They've both been under a mountain of pressure, but I'm prepared to live with that.
    It's probably benefited Scott having Nathan there because he's less experienced and more likely to get the ball out to Scott than Paul Green or Noel Goldthorpe would."

But Sheens rejects the nothion of Prince moving to halfback were Melbourne to lure him South, as Storm coach Chris Anderson has hinted at.

    "No, I think that's too big an ask for him and I don't thinkhe would handle it," he observed. "He's still only 20 and isn't very big plus I believe five-eighth is his position - he has more room to move at second reciever.

    "I'm not saying he could never play halfback , but he's not quite robust enough yet."
    Prince has set his sights on representative football in the wake of Bowman's achievements this season. In the meantime, he is taking some time to weigh up his options.

    "At the moment it's still in the hands of my manager but I would love to stay with North Queensland," he said.