2010 was the third competitive season for the Cairns based Skill360 Northern Pride Rugby League Football Club'. They were one of 12 Australian clubs that played in the fifteenth season of Queensland's top rugby league competition, QRL's Intrust Super Cup, with each team playing 11 home games and 11 away games over 25 weeks between March and August.
The CEO, Denis Keeffe left the Pride to become CEO of the Central Queensland NRL bid. He was replaced by board member and former QRL Northern Division chairman, John Moore. Another board member, Nigel Tillett resigned to concentrate on his CDRL commitments.
Pride assistant coach David Maiden was appointed head coach, replacing Andrew Dunemann who had taken up a new role assistant coach at the NRL's Newcastle Knights. Maiden had coached the Pride's Mal Meninga Cup U-18 side to the grand final last season.
Chris Sheppard was named captain for the third (and final) year, with Ryan Stig taking on the role for the Pre-season Trial against the Windsor Wolves, and Mark Cantoni stepping in as captain between Round 8 and Round 12 when Sheppard was out with a facial fracture.
On 1 April 2010 the Pride launched a Facebook page, 'northernpriderugbyleague', and from Round 3 they started posting live score updates during matches. At away games various staff members and the coaches' wife Juanita Maiden posted scores. At home games Cairns Post sports journalist Andrew Piva posted scores.
The Pride's main sponsor, CRGT (Cairns Region Group Training), became Skill360. CRGT/Skill360 were the Pride's main sponsors for the Pride's first six years. Skytrans Airline sponsored the Pride's 'Take Pride' youth community program.
The Pride played most of their home games at Barlow Park this season, but during May the ground was unavailable while the athletics track was replaced. The Pride played their two May home games at Pride Oval, Irene Street, Manunda, winning both of them.
Rugby League Magazine tipped the Pride to win the competition this year, but the start of the season under their new coach did not go well. Round 1 was a rematch with the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles, who had beaten the Pride in last year's grand final. Although the Pride had the home game advantage and a new, bulkier front row, and the Sea Eagles had lost many of last year's grand final players, the Pride lost the match. The Pride went on to lose Round 2 to Wynnum Manly, and suffer their greatest defeat, 60-12 in Round 3 to Souths Logan, putting them at the bottom of the table for the first time in their history. In Round 12 Daly Cherry-Evans's Sea Eagles defeated the Pride again, with a humiliating 64-0 defeat.
After thirteen rounds they had only had five wins, but then, in the latter half of the season they won nine consecutive matches to finish in fourth place. The final match of the regular season saw the Pride beat Burleigh Bears 54-6, their biggest win. This game was also the first time the Pride fielded a team without any North Queensland Cowboys.
The Pride had the home game advantage in week one of the finals, when they faced Wynnum Manly. The Pride had lost both regular season games to the WM Seagulls, but this time they beat them 28-12, before going on to beat the minor-premiers, Souths Logan, who had handed them the humiliating defeat in Round 3. Now in their second consecutive Grand Final, the Pride beat Norths Devils 30–20 at Suncorp Stadium to become Premiers for the first time. Captain Chris Sheppard won the Duncan Hall Medal for his man-of-the-match performance in the Grand Final, which was his last game before retirement.
2010 Season – Skill360 Northern Pride
Competition: Intrust Super Cup Sponsor: Skill360
Staff
Coaches/Trainers Coach: David Maiden Assistant coach: David Westley Mal Meninga Cup U-18s coach: Cameron 'Spilla' Miller Cyril Connell Cup U-16s coach: Strength and conditioning coach: Scott Callaghan Strapper: Kev Anderson
Captains Chris Sheppard Ryan Stig (Pre-season Trial 4) Mark Cantoni (Rounds 8 to 12)
Managers Operations manager: Chris Sheppard Team manager: Rob White Office Manager: Sheron McDougall Club captain: Ben Laity Chief executive: John Moore. Chairman: Bob Fowler Board of Directors: Nigel Tillett, Craig Meiklejohn, Bob Fowler.
2010 squad The Pride used 36 players this season. Sixteen players from last year signed with the club again, and seven of the Cowboys allocation players from last year were assigned to the Pride again this year. Thirteen new players made their debut this season; ten were new signings (Aisea Namoa, Ben Fitzpatrick, Ben Spina, Brenton Bowen, Jaiman Lowe, Jay Aston, Mark Dalle Cort, Ryan Stig, Taputoa Sonny Rea and Theeran Pearson), and three were new Cowboys allocation players (Dane Hogan, Kaine Manihera and Michael Bani).
Chris Sheppard (c)
Aisea Namoa
Alex Starmer
Ben Fitzpatrick
Ben Laity
Ben Spina
Brenton Bowen
Brett Anderson
Chey Bird
Chris Riesen
Drew Campbell
Jaiman Lowe
Jamie Frizzo
Jason Roos
Jay Aston
Joel Riethmuller
Mark Cantoni
Mark Dalle Cort
Noel Underwood
Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia
Rod Griffin
Rod Jensen
Ryan Stig
Taputoa Sonny Rea
Theeran Pearson
Darryl Grant
Freddie Fauid
Nick Obodin
Nigel Naawi
Siaosi Liumaunu
Carl Webb* Clint Amos* Dane Hogan* James Tamou* John Williams* Kaine Manihera* Manase Manuokafoa* Michael Bani* Nick Slyney* Steve Southern* Ty Williams* Cowboys NYC U-20s Aidan Day James Segeyaro
2010 player gains Player From League From Club NotesRyan Stig NRL Telstra Premiership Newcastle Knights Brett Anderson NRL Telstra Premiership Melbourne Storm Brenton Bowen NRL Telstra Premiership Gold Coast Titans Theeran Pearson NRL U-20s NYC Newcastle Knights Jay Aston Intrust Super Cup Norths Devils Mark Dalle Cort English RFL Super League Celtic Crusaders In August 2009, Dalle Cort, along with five teammates, was ordered to leave the United Kingdom after the UK Border Agency identified breaches to their visa conditions. The Celtic Crusaders cancelled Dalle Cort's contract with immediate effect.Ben Fitzpatrick CDRL Brothers (Cairns)Freddie Fauid CDRL Brothers (Cairns)Nick Obodin CDRL Brothers (Cairns)Taputoa Sonny Rea CDRL Kangaroos RLFCBen Spina TDRL Herbert River CrushersAisea Namoa NZ rugby union North OtagoJaiman Lowe NRL Telstra Premiership South Sydney Rabbitohs Released mid-season after Lowe re-signed with the Rabbitohs after Ben Ross's season ending neck injury).
Player losses after 2009 season Player To League To Club Tom Humble NRL Telstra Premiership Parramatta Eels Luke Harlen NRL Telstra Premiership Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Germaine Paulson Intrust Cup Burleigh Bears Greg Byrnes Queensland Cup Redcliffe Dolphins Richie MarstersCDRL Tully Tigers Gordon RattlerMDRL Souths Sharks Rod Jensen Retired Jensen returned to the Pride in Round 15, 2010. Hezron Murgha InjuredOut for the year for knee surgery, Adam Mills Released Callan Myles Released Josh Vaughan Released Luke Millwood Released Chris Riesen
Cowboys no longer allocated to the Pride Player To League To Club Brandon Boor* David Pangai* Travis Burns* NRL Telstra Premiership Penrith Panthers Matthew Bartlett* Newcastle Rugby League Lakes United Seagulls
Players suspended Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia was suspended for six-months and fined $2500 after pleading guilty to public nuisance.
2010 season launch Pre-Season Training: 23 November 2009. Pre-Season Boot Camp: Undara, 23–24 January 2010. Season Launch: 6 March 2010, 9.00am-11.00am, Airfirst, 124 Anderson Street, Manunda.
2010 player awards Cairns Post most improved player: Noel Underwood Cairns Colonial Club Resort best back: Brett Anderson Taxsmart best forward: Mark Cantoni Skytrans players' player: Ben Laity QCCU John O'Brien Perpetual Club Person of the Year: Cameron 'Spiller' Miller Skill360 Australia player of the year: Joel Riethmuller Duncan Hall Medal Winner: Chris Sheppard
Grand Final Premiers Presentation 21 September 2010, 4.00pm at the Cairns Esplanade. Cairns Regional Council Mayor Val Schier presented the team with a commemorative plaque.
2010 Queensland Residents team Clint Amos*
Players signed to first-tier teams Player To League To Club Ryan Stig NRL Telstra Premiership Newcastle Knights Jaiman Lowe NRL Telstra Premiership South Sydney Rabbitohs
2010 Jerseys
The NAIDOC Week jersey was unveiled at the launch of the Pride's 'Reconciliation Action Plan', which had been accepted by Reconciliation Australia, a first for any rugby league club in the country. The jersey was designed by local indigenous artists, Aboriginal man Kevin Edmondston and Torres Strait Islander Joey Laifoo, and was manufactured by EMU Sportswear in Townsville. The Pride wore it in they Round 16 clash against the Ipswich Jets at Barlow Park.
Trial matches
Skill360 Northern Pride: Unlimited Interchange: , * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia (suspended). NYC U-20s Cowboys: ?
Skill360 Northern Pride: Unlimited Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia (suspended). St George Illawarra Dragons: 1. Chris Astill, 2. Kalifa Fai Fai Loa, 3. Travis Roche, 4. Jarred Brodrick, 5. Dave Cattarall, 6. Kane Gillies, 7. Scott Rosser, 8. Justin King, 9. Cameron King, 10.Jack Stockwell, 11.Sam Campbell, 12.Alex McKinnon, 13.Wes Suckley. Unlimited Interchange: 14. Max Ray, 15. Jack DeBelin, 16. Jarrod Thompson, 17. Mitch Rein, 18. Tim Moore, 19. Simon Maslanka, 20. Kyle Mallyon.
Skill360 Northern Pride: Unlimited Interchange: Unavailable: Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia (suspended). NQ Cowboys Combined Squad: ?
Skill360 Northern Pride: Unlimited Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Taputoa Sonny Rea (injury), Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia (suspended), Chey Bird (hand). Chris Sheppard (shin), Windsor Wolves: ?
Intrust Super Cup matches
Skill360 Northern Pride: Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia (suspended), Chey Bird (hand). Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles: 1. Dennis Sandow, 2. Michael Chapman, 3. Mark Page, 4. Kyle Lodge, 5. Zane Mc Carthy, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Trent Hodkinson, 8. Phil Morwood, 9. Cameron Joyce, 10. Junior Palau, 11. Jamie Buhrer, 12. Darcy Lassick, 13. Jon Muir. Interchange: 14. Rob Godfrey, 15. Vic Mauro, 16. Simon Allen, 17. Ben Whiddon. Note: Joel Riethmuller and Clint Amos* were placed on report for a dangerous throw. Amos* was found not guilty, but Riethmuller received a four-week ban.This was the Pride debut for Ben Fitzpatrick, Mark Dalle Cort, Brenton Bowen, Ryan Stig and Jaiman Lowe (Pride Players 048-052). PositionRound 1 – 2010PWDLForAgainstDiffPts10 Northern Pride1001616−100
Skill360 Northern Pride: Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia (suspended), Chey Bird (hand), Joel Riethmuller (judiciary). Wynnum-Manly Seagulls: 1. Shea Moylan, 2. Vincent Silulu, 3. Steve Michaels, 4. David Seage, 5. Shaun Cotter, 6. Ben Cronin, 7. Matthew Seamark, 8. Ben Shea, 9. Aoterangi Herangi, 10. Willie Scanlan, 11. Jon Grieve, 12. Darren Bain, 13. Luke Dalziel Don. Interchange: 14. Jack Afamasaga, 15. Kurtis Curry, 16. Tim Natusch, 17. Jake Granville. Note: This was the Pride debut for Jay Aston and North Queensland Cowboys allocation player Dane Hogan* (Players 053 and 054). PositionRound 2 – 2010PWDLForAgainstDiffPts10 Northern Pride20022234−120