2013 was the sixth competitive season for the Skill360 Northern Pride Rugby League Football Club based in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. They were one of 12 clubs that played in the eighteenth 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 24 weeks between March and August.
New coach Jason Demetriou was appointed on a two-year deal, replacing last year's coach, David Maiden (2010-2012), who was now QRL's Cairns-based Region Co-ordinator. Demetriou had played for Newtown Jets in the Metropolitan Cup, before moving to England where he played , , and for Lancashire Lynx, Rochdale Hornets, Widnes Vikings, and Keighley Cougars, was captain for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, and an international, having represented Canada in the 2000 Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championship, and Greece in 2007. He was coach for the Keighley Cougars (2011-2012), before moving home to Australia to take up the job with the Pride. In his first season in Cairns he was awarded the 'Men of League' Coach of the Year.
The Pride moved their administration from Jones Park, Mann Street, to 'Northern Pride HQ', Moore House at Barlow Park, and the team spent more time training at West Barlow Park.
The Pride played three pre-season trial matches. The first was the opening match to the North Queensland Cowboys v St George Illawarra Dragons trial match, which attracted a crowd of over 12,000. The game against the winners of the 2012 Digicel Cup, East New Britain Province side Agmark Rabaul Gurias, attracted a crowd of several thousand enthusiastic PNG ex-pats. The third trial saw a full-strength Pride squad with six Cowboys beat local rivals Mackay Cutters 40-12. Two weeks later in Round 1 the Pride beat the Cutters 44-12.
The Round 4 away game against Tweed Heads Seagulls was relocated to Billy Slater Oval, Callendar Park, Innisfail with funding provided by Cassowary Coast Regional Council. Country Week (Round 20), was played at Jilara Oval, Yarrabah, effectively giving the Pride two extra home games this season.
Except for Round 2 and Round 9, the Pride were on the top of the ladder every week, finishing in first place at the end of the regular season with 17 wins to claim their first Minor Premiership. Despite their winning form this season, the Pride lost both the Major Semi-Final (to Easts Tigers) and the Preliminary Final (to Mackay Cutters), missing out on a Grand Final appearance. The Cutters went on to defeat the Tigers in the Grand Final.
At the end of the season Captain Ty Williams retired. Northern Pride 2013 ISC video highlights (10 Videos).
2013 Season - Skill360 Northern Pride
Competition: Intrust Super Cup Sponsor: Skill360
Staff
Coaches/Trainers Coach: Jason Demetriou Assistant coach: Ben Rauter Assistant coach: Joe O'Callaghan Mal Meninga Cup U-18s coach: Cameron 'Spilla' Miller Cyril Connell Cup U-16s coach: Paul Callaghan Strength and conditioning coach: Patrick Ranasinghe Trainer: Deb Gallop Physiotherapist: Tim Laycock
Captains Ty Williams Brett Anderson (Rounds 9, 15 & 24) Jason Roos (Round 16)
Managers Operations manager: Sheron McDougall Team manager: Rob White Club captain: Business development manager: Brock Schaefer 'Take Pride' Program Manager: Chey Bird Accounts Manager: Lauren Dowling Chief executive: Chris Sheppard then Brock Schaefer.(Shep resigned in April 2013, and was replaced the following month by Northern Pride business development manager, Brock Schaefer). Chairman: Bob Fowler Board of Directors: Craig Meiklejohn, Bob Fowler, Anthony Mirotsos, Bill Phillips, David Smith.
2013 Squad The Pride used 32 players this season. Fourteen players from last year signed with the club again, and six of the Cowboys allocation players from last year were assigned to the Pride again this year. Twelve new players made their debut this season; eight were new signings (Aiden Smith, Jordan Biondi-Odo, Mervyn Walker, Nick Dorante, Sam Obst, Semi Tadulala, Steve Snitch and Tom Hancock), and four were new Cowboys allocation players (Felise Kaufusi*, Kyle Feldt*, Ray Thompson* and Scott Moore*). Although Ethan Lowe was signed by the Cowboys, he was allocated to the Pride and made 20 appearances in QCup this season.
Ty Williams (c). Aidan Smith. Alex Starmer. Ben Laity. Ben Spina. Brent Oosen. Brett Anderson. Brian Murgha Davin Crampton. Hezron Murgha. Jamie Frizzo. Jason Roos. Jordan Biondi-Odo.
Jordan Tighe Justin Castellaro . Maddie Oosen. Mervyn Walker Nick Dorante. Noel Underwood. Rickki Sutherland. Ryan Ghietti . Sam Obst. Semi Tadulala Shaun Nona. Steve Snitch . Tom Hancock.
Dylan Taylor Zac Parter Pride U-18 Squad Bradley Stephen Josateki Murray Pete Tognolini
Blake Leary*
Ethan Lowe*
Felise Kaufusi*
Joel Riethmuller*
Kyle Feldt*
Ray Thompson*
Ricky Thorby*
Robert Lui*
Scott Bolton*
Scott Moore*
Wayne Ulugia*
Allocated but did not play for the Pride in 2013:
Matthew Bowen
Ashley Graham
Dallas Johnson
Tariq Sims
James Tamou
2013 player gains Player From League From ClubSteve Snitch English RFL Super League Castleford TigersSam Obst English RFL Championship 1 Keighley CougarsSemi Tadulala English RFL Championship 1 Keighley CougarsJordan Tighe NRL U-20s Gold Coast TitansNick Dorante NRL U-20s North Queensland CowboysTom Hancock NRL U-20s North Queensland CowboysMervyn Walker Intrust Super Cup Ipswich JetsAidan Smith Auckland Rugby League Northcote TigersBrian Murgha CDRL Edmonton StormJordan Biondi-Odo CDRL Innisfail Brothers
Player losses after 2012 season Player To League To Club Ethan LoweNRL Telstra Premiership North Queensland Cowboys Saia Makisi Intrust Super Cup Wynnum Manly Seagulls Rod Jensen CDRL Mareeba Gladiators Chey Bird Retired Brenton Bowen Retired Mark Dalle Cort Retired Luke Harlen Retired (knee injury) Ben Fitzpatrick Released Mitchell Seri Released Scott Gibson Released
Cowboys no longer allocated to the Pride Player To League To Club Cory Paterson* Super League Hull Kingston Rovers James Segeyaro* NRL Telstra Premiership Penrith Panthers Kalifa Faifai Loa* NRL Telstra Premiership North Queensland Cowboys Luke Harlen* Retired (knee injury)
2013 season launch Pre-Season Training: 5 November 2012. Pre Season Boot Camp: Lake Tinaroo, Atherton Tablelands - Friday 18-Sunday 20 January 2013. DonateLife Week fund-raiser: Touch football match against Lotus Glen prison inmates, 27 February 2013. Season Launch: Thursday, 14 March 2013. 7.00pm at Mount Sheridan Plaza.
2013 player awards Sunday 1 September 2013, Brothers World of Entertainment, Manunda Skill360 Australia Northern Pride Player of the Year: Davin Crampton. Sea Swift Players' Player: Hezron Murgha Sea Swift Members' Player of the Year: Hezron Murgha Sea Swift Most improved player: Shaun Nona Sea Swift Best Back: Sam Obst Sea Swift Best Forward: Ethan Lowe* John O'Brien Perpetual Club Person of the Year: Cameron Penny XXXX People's Choice Award: Hezron Murgha Men of League Coach of the Year: Jason Demetriou Intrust Super Cup Leading Try Scorer: Davin Crampton.
2013 player records Most Games: Ben Spina (24). Most Tries: Davin Crampton (19). Most Points: Shaun Nona (88).
2013 representative players Ryan Ghietti played for Italy Azzurri in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup
2013 Queensland Residents team Blake Leary Hezron Murgha
Players signed to first-tier teams Player To League To Club Hezron Murgha NRL Telstra Premiership North Queensland Cowboys Noel Underwood NRL Telstra Premiership Newcastle Knights Steve Snitch English RFL Betfred Championship Doncaster RLFC
2013 Jerseys
Trial matches
Skill360 Northern Pride: Unlimited Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation Unavailable: Ty Williams, Jason Roos (knee), Noel Underwood (knee), Ben Spina (selected to play for the North Queensland Cowboys). North Queensland Cowboys: 1 Zac Santo, 2 Zac Mackay, 3 Javid Bowen, 4 Samsen O'Neill, 5 Len Magey, 6 Alex Grant, 7 Sam Foster, 8 Damon Tauroa-Rauhihi, 9 Jayden Hodges, 10 Patrick Kaufusi, 11 Jack Kelleher, 12 Jack Svendsen, 13 Chris Grevsmuhl. Interchange: 14 Jorden White, 15 P J Webb, 16 Jack Rycen, 17 Sean Young, 18 Andrew Asi-Hunt Niemoller, 19 Kunro Kalo, 20 Brady Williams, 21 Mitchell Grimes, 22 Corey Jensen. Note: This game was played as the opening match to the 'Sea Swift Cairns Challenge' North Queensland Cowboys v St George Illawarra Dragons trial match, which started at 7.30pm. The Cowboys won 28–22. The Pride players that were not selected for this game joined the U-18s squad and played against the CDRL Mareeba Gladiators.
Skill360 Northern Pride: Unlimited Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation Unavailable: Noel Underwood (knee), Jason Roos (knee) Agmark Rabaul Gurias: 1. Albert Patak, 2. Chris Jerry, 3. Francis Paniu, 4. Jacky Marcus, 5. Boas Ruru, 6. Dion Aiye, 7. Ase Boas, 8. Junior Pangogo, 9. Wartovo Puara Jr, 10. Daniel Pai, 11. Emmanuel John, 12. Hobert Hondole, 13. Kot Kerowa. Interchange: 14. Eliab Pauria, 15. Nelson Daplen 16. Sakisa Kabange. Note: The Agmark Rabaul Gurias are from Kokopo, the capital of East New Britain in Papua New Guinea. They are the 2012 Premiers of the PNG League Championship, the Digimark Cup. The Gurias entered the PNG Championship in 1990 (the championship has been variously called the PNG Intercity Rugby League Competition, the SP Cup, the bemobile Cup and the Digimark Cup). Their first success came in 1999 when they were runners up, then 2000 (runners up), 2001 (premiers), 2002 (runners up), 2003 (premiers), 2005 (premiers), 2007 (runners up), 2009 (premiers), 2011 (runners up), 2012 (premiers).This game was broadcast live in East New Britain on local FM radio NBC ENB.
Skill360 Northern Pride: Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation Unavailable: Noel Underwood (knee), Jason Roos (knee) Mackay Cutters: 1. Liam Taylor, 2. Michael Comerford, 3. Curtis Rona, 4. Michael Koko, 5. Tyson Muscat, 6. Dave Petersen, 7. Delane Edwards, 8. Sam Hoare, 9. Andy Gay, 10. Joel Clinton, 11. Tyson Martin, 12. Jake Cooley, 13. Matt Constantinou. Interchange: 14. David Milne, 15. Merv Williamson, 16. Sam Miles, 17. Tyson Andrews, 18. Jason Schirnack, 19. Karl Davies, 20. Chris Gesch, 21. Dean Webster, 22. Pulou Vaittuutuu. Note: Several Pride players played in the CDRL competition on 9–10 March. Justin Castellaro (Brothers), Steve Snitch (Edmonton), Jordan Biondi-Odo (Innisfail), Jordan Tighe and Mervyn Walker (Mareeba), Rickki Sutherland and Brent Oosen (Suburbs), Aidan Smith (Mossman), Noel Underwood (Yarrabah).
Intrust Super Cup matches
Skill360 Northern Pride Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation Unavailable: Noel Underwood (knee), Jason Roos (knee), Ben Laity (calf). Mackay Cutters: 1. Liam Taylor, 2. Bureta Faraimo, 3. Curtis Rona*, 4. Michael Koko, 5. Michael Comerford, 6. Dave Petersen, 7. Matt Minto, 8. Sam Hoare*, 9. Anthony Mitchell, 10. Joel Clinton, 11. Tyson Martin, 12. Chris Grevsmuhl, 13. Jardine Bobongie. Interchange: 14. Alex Elisala, 15. Tyson Andrews, 16. Pulou Vaituutuu, 17. Jake Cooley, 5. David Milne Coach: Kim Williams. Note: First round local derby between the Pride and the Mackay Cutters.This was the Pride debut for Semi Tadulala, Sam Obst, Aiden Smith and Steve Snitch (Pride Players 085-088). PositionRound 1 - 2013PWDLBForAgainstDiffPts1 Northern Pride110004412+322