2024 was the seventeenth competitive season for the Cairns-based Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride Rugby League Football Club. They were one of 15 clubs that compete in Queensland's top rugby league competition, QRL's Hostplus Cup. The Northern Pride played 20 home-and-away matches over 23 rounds between March and August, finishing as minor premiers with 17 wins and 3 losses, scoring 660 points and conceding 308 for a points differential of +352.
Eric Smith was appointed as head coach on a two-year contract, replacing Ty Williams, who had coached the Pride for seven seasons. Smith previously coached the Sunshine Coast Falcons to a minor premiership in 2019 and was development coach at the Newcastle Knights from 2020–2022. Kyle Schneider was appointed captain for 2024, with Ewan Moore and Evan Child as vice-captains.
The Pride are a feeder club to the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys. The Cowboys split their squad of first grade and development players between their QCup feeder clubs, and players not required for that weekend's NRL fixture play for their feeder team. The Pride and Cutters have been Cowboys feeder clubs since entering the competition in 2008, and the Blackhawks became the third feeder club when they joined in 2015. After the Blackhawks terminated their arrangement with the Cowboys and signed a two-year affiliation (2024–2025) with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in October 2023, the Cowboys' allocation was divided between just two teams (the Pride and Cutters) for the first time in ten years.
The Pride finished the regular season undefeated at home with 10 wins from 10 matches at Barlow Park, and went undefeated from Round 9 onwards. In the finals series, the Pride defeated the Sunshine Coast Falcons 38–0 in the qualifying final at Barlow Park on 31 August, but were eliminated in the preliminary final, losing 16–17 (after golden point extra time) to the Redcliffe Dolphins on 14 September. Thomas Duffy was the team's top point-scorer with 142 points (3 tries, 65 goals), while Dane Aukafolau and Jensen Taumoepeau were joint top try-scorers with 10 tries each.
Competitions The Pride's first grade side competes in the QRL State competition, the Hostplus Cup. The club also field academy teams in the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup U18, Cyril Connell Challenge U16, and women's teams in the Harvey Norman U19 and Harvey Norman U17.
Hostplus Cup Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup U18 Cyril Connell Challenge U16 Harvey Norman (F) U19 Harvey Norman (F) U17
2024 Season – Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride
Competition: Hostplus Cup Sponsor: Kenfrost Homes.
Staff
Coaches/Trainers Coach: Eric Smith. Assistant coach: Sam Obst. Assistant coach: Will Bugden. Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup U-19 coach: Bevan Walker. Cyril Connell Challenge U-17 coach: Kris O'Farrell. Harvey Norman U-19 women's coach: Flori King-Smith. Harvey Norman U-17 women's coach: Elio Oberleuter. Strength and conditioning coach: Tim Holdsworth. First Aid Officer: Shane Jarvis.
Captains Captain: Kyle Schneider. Vice-captains: Ewan Moore and Evan Child.
Managers Football Operations Manager: Tanya Tully. Team Manager: Sam Harreman. CEO: Garreth Smith. Chairman: Terry Medhurst. Board Members: Joel Riethmuller (player representative), Micheal Luck (Cowboys representative), Mark Whitnall, Leon Yeatman, Stephen Devenish and Sarah Campbell, ?? (FNQRL representative), ?? (CDJRL representative).
2024 Squad
Allocated but did not play for the Pride in 2024:
Player gains Player From League From Club NotesHostplus Cup Brisbane TigersHostplus Cup Brisbane TigersHostplus Cup Brisbane Tigers Hastings Deering Colts 2023 Player of Year.Hostplus Cup Mackay CuttersKnock-On Effect NSW Cup Newtown JetsKnock-On Effect NSW Cup Canberra Raiders2023 Apprentice of the Year.NRL Telstra Premiership Newcastle KnightsFNQRL Brothers CairnsFNQRL Innisfail LeprachaunsKnock-On Effect Cup Western Suburbs Magpies Signed after Round 9
Player losses after 2023 season Player To League To Club Julian ChristianHostplus Cup Norths Devils Bernard LewisHostplus Cup Townsville Blackhawks Justin FrainHostplus Cup Wynnum Manly Seagulls Daniel Hindmarsh-Takyi English RFL Super League Castleford Tigers Zane Knowles(released) Mareko Daniel(released) Ponepate Tongia(released) Zac Vella(released)
Season launch Pre-Season Training: 13 November 2023. Season launch: Brothers World of Entertainment, 23 February 2024.
Jerseys
Sponsors Kenfrost Homes Cairns Regional Council, Brothers Cairns North Queensland Cowboys, Pacific Toyota, Recovery Lab, Triple M 99.5, Totally Workwear, Goodline, OSE Group, GNB Energy, Skytrans, Your Fitness, EV2 Sportswear, Far North Physiotherapy, Crowies Paints, Status Signs, Terry White Chemmart, Coral Coast Laundry, Babinda Electrics, The Benson Hotel, Ringers Western, Mortgage Choice, Heightened Security, Smit Lamnalco.
Trial matches
Round Opponent Score Date VenueTrial 1 Brothers Cairns160 Saturday 17 February 2024 West Barlow Park, Cairns.Trial 2 Townsville Blackhawks2012 Saturday 17 February 2024 West Barlow Park, Cairns.
Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride: The full squad of 28 players participated in these two trial games, some in the 30 minute trial against Brothers, and the rest in the full 80-minute trial against the Blackhawks played immediately afterwards. Coach: Eric Smith. Brothers Cairns: FNQRL Premiers 2023. Coach: Jordan Biondi-Odo. The game was two halves of 15 minutes each. Brothers then played a 30-minute game against the Townsville Blackhawks. Due to the limited time, tries were not converted.
Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride: The full squad of 28 players participated, some in the first trial against Brothers, and the rest in the full trial against the Blackhawks. Townsville and District Mendi Blackhawks: Lennix Tovo, Ratu Rotavisoro, Tyreece Woods, Eliot Zenon, Jesse Yallop, Matthew Wright, Jaelen Feeney, Tyreece Tonga, Josh Williams, Corey Walker, Trey Valentine, Jack Petit, Sean Bourke, Mckenzie Baker, Jale Riley, Dudley Dotoi, Bernard Lewis, Kalifa Fai Fai Loa, Jake Bourke, Christian Gale, Joel Baldwin, Nichola Brown, Edward Hampson, Will Wardle, Denzal Tonisee, Jaman Rio, Lachlen Lerch. Coach: Terry Campese. The game was played in a torrential downpour, with 150 mm of rain recorded during the afternoon. Due to the limited time, tries were not converted.
Hostplus Cup matches
Round Opponent Score Date VenueRound 1 Tweed Heads Seagulls3216 Saturday 9 March 2024 Barlow Park, Cairns.Round 2 Brisbane Tigers3812 Saturday 16 March 2024 Barlow Park, Cairns.Round 3 Townsville Blackhawks1810 Saturday 23 March 2024 Jack Manski Oval, Townsville.Round 4 Sunshine Coast Falcons3210 Saturday 6 April 2024 Sunshine Coast Stadium, Kawana Waters.Round 5 Redcliffe Dolphins3022 Saturday 13 April 2024 Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe.Round 6 Norths Devils3812 Saturday 20 April 2024 Barlow Park, Cairns.Round 7BYE Saturday 27 April 2024Round 8 Ipswich Jets5612 Saturday 5 May 2024 North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich.Round 9 Papua New Guinea Hunters1230 Saturday 11 May 2024 Santos National Football Stadium. Port Moresby.Round 10 Mackay Cutters526 Saturday 18 May 2024 BB Print Stadium, South Mackay.Round 11 Souths Logan Magpies4022 Friday 24 May 2024 Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville.Round 12BYE Saturday 1 June 2024Round 13 Burleigh Bears2416 Saturday 8 June 2024 Barlow Park, Cairns.Round 14 Western Clydesdales2242 Sunday 16 June 2024 Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba.Round 15 Townsville Blackhawks480 Saturday 22 June 2024 Barlow Park, Cairns.Round 16 Mackay Cutters2012 Saturday 29 June 2024 Barlow Park, Cairns.Round 17 CQ Capras346 Saturday 6 July 2024 Barlow Park, Cairns.Round 18 Brisbane Tigers1624 Saturday 13 July 2024 Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane.Round 19 WM Seagulls3212 Saturday 27 July 2024 Country Week, John Street Oval, CooktownRound 20 Western Clydesdales460 Saturday 3 August 2024 Barlow Park, Cairns.Round 21 SC Falcons3818 Saturday 10 August 2024 Barlow Park, Cairns.Round 22BYE Saturday 17 August 2024Round 23 Burleigh Bears3424 Saturday 24 August 2024 UAA Park, Gold Coast,
Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride: Interchange: Reserve: Cowboys allocation =* (4 players allocated for this match). Unavailable: Will Partridge (injury). Tweed Seagulls: Interchange: Reserve: * = Titans allocation. Coach: David Penna. Note: Gameday Sponsor: Survivor Golf.This was the Pride debut for captain Kyle Schneider, Nat McGavin, Bacho Salam, Jenson Taumoepeau and Josh Allen (Pride Players 214–219), and North Queensland Cowboys allocation players Jack Gosiewski*, Marly Bitungane* and Thomas Duffy* (Pride Players 217 & 220–221). PositionRound 1 – 2024PWDLBForAgainstDiffPoints2 Northern Pride110003216+162
Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride: Interchange: Reserve: Cowboys allocation =* (4 players allocated for this match). Unavailable: Will Partridge (injury). Pride Ins: 18. Lachlan West (18th man), 3. Jodeci Tiraha-Baker* (Cowboys allocation replaces Rashaun Denny). Pride Outs: 18. Christopher Ostwald (18th man), 3. Rashaun Denny. Suzuki Brisbane Tigers: Interchange: Reserve: Storm allocation = * (3 players allocated for this match). Coach: Matt Church. Note: Brisbane Tigers were defending premiers.Gameday Sponsor: Totally Workwear.This was the Pride debut for the North Queensland Cowboys allocation player Jodeci Tiraha-Baker* (Pride Player 222). PositionRound 2 – 2024PWDLBForAgainstDiffPoints1 Northern Pride222007028+424
Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride: Interchange: Reserve: Cowboys allocation =* (4 players allocated for this match). Pride Ins: Dane Aukafolau (new arrival), Rashaun Denny, Whyatt Barnes. Pride Outs: Jack Gosiewski* (recalled to the Cowboys to replace injured Heilum Luki), Josh Allen, Lachlan West. Change: Terrence Casey-Douglas (bench to second row), Marly Bitungane* (bench to front row). Townsville & Districts Mendi Blackhawks: Interchange: Reserve: Rabbitohs allocation = * (0 players allocated for this match). Coach: Terry Campese. Note: This was the Pride debut for Dane Aukafolau (Player 223). PositionRound 3 – 2024PWDLBForAgainstDiffPoints1 Northern Pride330008838+506
Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride: Interchange: Reserve: Cowboys allocation =* (4 players allocated for this match). Pride Ins: Tom Chester* (fullback), Josh Allen (front row), Kenneth Fonoti (bench) Pride Outs: Seamus King-Smith (fullback), Marly Bitungane* (front row), Paea Pua (bench). Changes: Seamus King-Smith (replaced by Tom Chester*), Marly Bitungane* replaced by Kenneth Fonoti. SC Falcons: Interchange: Reserve: Storm allocation = * (5 players allocated for this match). Coach: Brad Henderson. Note: This was the Pride debut for North Queensland Cowboys allocation player Tom Chester* (Pride Player 224). PositionRound 4 – 2024PWDLBForAgainstDiffPoints3 Northern Pride430109870+286
Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride: Interchange: Reserve: (* = Cowboys allocation - 4 players allocated for this match). Pride Ins: Seamus King-Smith (fullback), Chris Ostwald (bench), Marly Bitungane* (bench) Pride Outs: Tom Chester* (fullback), Dantoray Lui (bench), Kenneth Fonoti (bench) Changes: Terrence Casey-Douglas (second row to bench), Dane Aukafolau (bench to second row) Redcliffe Dolphins: Interchange: Reserve: * = NRL Dolphins allocation. Coach: Ben Te'o PositionRound 5 – 2024PWDLBForAgainstDiffPoints8 Northern Pride53020120100+206
Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride: Interchange: Reserve: (* = Cowboys allocation – 4 players allocated for this match). Pride Ins: Will Partridge (centre), Lachlan West. Pride Outs: Jodeci Baker*, Seamus King-Smith. Norths Devils: Interchange: Reserve: * = Brisbane Broncos allocation Coach: David Elliott. Note: Gameday Sponsor: Crowies Paints.This was the Pride debut for Lachlan West (Pride Player 225). PositionRound 6 – 2024PWDLBForAgainstDiffPoints4 Northern Pride64020158112+468
PositionRound 7 – 2024PWDLBForAgainstDiffPoints4 Northern Pride64021158112+4610