AFTER only arriving in Cairns on Monday, Northern Pride recruit Ryan Stig has already identified his first obstacle to overcome – the heat.

The former Newcastle Knights Toyota Cup playmaker spent seven weeks in pre-season training with the Pride’s NRL affiliate the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville before Christmas, but yesterday rated playing in Cairns a hotter prospect.

“Probably the biggest thing is the heat,” he said. “I was in Townsville before Christmas but I reckon it’s hotter here. And a lot more humid.”

Stig is hopeful his form will be just as hot when he replaces Parramatta signing Tom Humble as pivot for the Pride.

The 20-year-old aims to win Cowboys selection and is excited at the prospect of playing alongside Australian halfback Johnathan Thurston.

But he is also eager to play alongside skipper Chris Sheppard in the halves for the Pride.

“He’s got a lot of experience,” he said of Sheppard. “I’m looking forward to forming a good combo with him.

“I played a bit of (five-eighth and halfback) in the juniors, but mostly five-eighth and I prefer it.

“So it’s going to work out well with Shep being a natural halfback.”

Stig will also have plenty of opportunity to pick the mind of former Cowboy and Dragon Sheppard, spending his first week in Cairns at his skipper’s home.

Stig will see action for the Cowboys during the pre-season trials but believed he would start the season proper at the Pride.

Having already completed one training session with the Pride, Stig said he was happy to venture north despite missing more session time with the Cowboys.

“I’m playing in a trail for the Cowboys, but this gives me a chance to come up here and to get to know the boys and get some combinations,” he said.

“I’ll start here at the start of the season and hopefully I can play well and force my way (into the Cowboys team).”

Sheppard said Stig’s signing was a good one for last year’s Queensland Cup runners-up.

“He’s got a lot of potential, a lot of up-side, and we’re looking forward to having him here and playing him at five-eighth,” he said.

“He’s a good kicker, can take the line on – he’s pretty quick, and he’s got a good passing game, so he’s got a fair bit there.”

Sheppard was confident of forming a strong scrumbase partnership with the young recruit.

“It’ll take time again, like it did with Tommy (Humble), but we think we’ve got the right man in Ryan, so (I’m) looking forward to seeing how he fits into the team and seeing how he goes and we think he’ll bring something to us.”