Northern Pride RLFC

The original coach was Adrian Lam, who arrived in Cairns in August 2007, but was released a month later to take up a coaching position at the Sydney Roosters.[5] He was replaced by former Canberra Raiders NRL player Andrew Dunemann (Coach 2008–2009) with former North Queensland Cowboys player David Maiden and Troy Cummings as Assistant Coaches.

Dunemann resigned at the end of 2009 and Maiden was promoted to Head Coach with former Canberra Raiders and PNG international David Westley as Assistant Coach. Maiden left at the end of 2012 season and was replaced by former Super League player Jason Demetriou as head coach with Ben Rauter as Assistant Coach.

Demetriou coached the Pride to a minor premiership in his first season, winning 17 of their 22 games and being awarded the 'Men of League Coach of the Year' award. In his second season Demetriou secured the minor premiership again, winning 20 games in 24 rounds, before taking out the premiership and the inaugural NRL State Championship. Demetriou resigned at the end of the 2014 season to take up the position of assistant coach under Paul Green at the North Queensland Cowboys. He was replaced by assistant coach Joe O'Callaghan, who coached the team during the 2015 and 2016 seasons with assistant coaches Shane O'Flanagan and Leon Hallie, and trainer Darren Ferricks.

Former North Queensland Cowboys and Queensland Origin winger Ty Williams was appointed coach in 2017, with assistant coaches Sam Obst and Shane O’Flanagan. Williams was named as QRL 'Coach of the Year' for the 2018 season. In 2019, Williams signed an extension which will see him coach until the end of the 2021 season.[6] In November 2018, former Pride player Chey Bird was appointed Football Operations Manager.

The foundation captain of the Northern Pride was former North Queensland Cowboys and St. George Illawarra Dragons player Chris Sheppard.[7] He was the first player signed to the team in July 2007, and was captain and operations manager for the first three seasons. Sheppard retired after leading the Pride to the 2010 Queensland Cup premiership.

Former North Queensland Cowboys player Ty Williams was captain for the next three seasons (2011–2013), before retiring to captain-coach the CDRL Innisfail Leprechauns. In 2014 Brett Anderson and Jason Roos were named as joint co-captains.

Ryan Ghietti was named as captain in 2016, with Jack Svendsen as vice-captain. Ghietti retired at the end of the 2018 season and Tom Hancock and Dave Murphy were named as joint co-captains for the 2019 season.

The foundation Chief Executive Officer was Dennis Keeffe. He was replaced in 2010 by QRL Northern Division chairman John Moore. From 2011 to 2013 former team captain Chris Sheppard was chief executive officer. He was replaced in May 2013 by Northern Pride business development manager, Brock Schaefer.[8] Schaefer resigned at the end of the 2014 season to take up a role at South Sydney Rabbitohs and was replaced in January 2015 by former Pride player Rod Jensen. Jensen was replaced in September 2016 by Greg Dowling, who left the position in July 2018 and was replaced in October 2018 by Mark Quinn.

The founding Northern Pride chairman was John O'Brien. He was replaced by Bob Fowler who retired in December 2015. Terry Mackenroth acted as interim chairman until June 2016, when Cairns real-estate agent and club director, Tony Williamson, was appointed chairman.

The Northern Pride Board of Directors in 2019 is Tony Williamson (chair), Gail Andrejic, Colin Moore, Stephen Tillett, Peter Parr, Terry Medhurst and Stephen Devenish.

The Pride's home ground is Barlow Park in Cairns. The playing field is 114 metres long (100 metres of field plus two 7-metre in-goal areas) by 68 metres wide. The facility is floodlit for night games with four towers providing 620 lux. The venue has a capacity of 15,000, which includes 1,700 seats (mostly undercover) in a stand on the northern side of the park. The stand was constructed in 1987. The car park can accommodate approximately 300 vehicles. In 2012–2013 the Pride played 13 consecutive home games at Barlow Park without loss. In 2014 Barlow Park was renamed 'The Jungle' and the Pride won all 12 matches they played there.

The Pride have played two home games at Pride Oval (CDRL Kangaroo's Vico Oval) in 2010, and one home game at Davies Park, Mareeba in 2014.

As part of the Queensland Cup's Country Week initiative, the Northern Pride have hosted home games in Mount Isa, Yarrabah, Mareeba, Innisfail, Ravenshoe, Cooktown, Bamaga and Thursday Island.[9]

The Pride purchased CDRL Kangaroos Leagues Club and Vico Oval, Irene Street, Mooroobool from the Redcliffe Dolphins in June 2008 for $1.85m (the Dolphins having purchased the Oval and Leagues Club from the Kangaroos in 2005 when the Roos were in financial difficulty). Vico Oval was renamed Pride Oval and the 2008 Northern Pride Player Awards ceremony was held at the Pride Leagues Club. Pre-Season Trials were played at Pride Oval in 2009, as well as Round 9 and Round 11 of the 2010 Season.

The Oval and Leagues Club cost around $230,000 a year to maintain, and so in December 2010 Cairns Regional Council agreed to purchase the sporting complex for $2.5m to guarantee its future as a sporting field, prevent residential development on the land and free the Northern Pride rugby league club from an oppressive debt. The Pride were given a six-month lease, and when it expired in May 2011 they decided not to renew and moved to Barlow Park. Pride Oval was leased to CDRL Kangaroos RLFC and became Vico Oval and Kangaroos Leagues Club once again. The Pride played a pre-season trial matches at Vico Oval in 2012 and 2016.

In their first year in the Queensland Cup the Northern Pride came third, losing the preliminary final in golden point extra-time to the Souths Logan Magpies, who went on to win the 2008 grand final.

The foundation coach was Andrew Dunemann, who had played for the Canberra Raiders, Leeds Rhinos, Halifax and South Sydney Rabbitohs, and had been Under-20s coach for the Canberra Raiders. David Maiden was assistant coach.

The foundation captain was Chris Sheppard, who had played for the North Queensland Cowboys and St. George Illawarra Dragons.

The Northern Pride followed up their impressive first season by finishing second and reaching the grand final. The Pride's first grand final appearance ended in a 32–18 loss to the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles at Stockland Park.

Coach Andrew Dunemann left at the end of the season to take up a position as assistant coach to Rick Stone at the Newcastle Knights.

David Maiden took over as coach. Maiden played for the North Queensland Cowboys, Gateshead Thunder and Hull FC, as well as representing Scotland as an international in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

The Northern Pride finished fourth and made the Grand Final, having won 11 matches in a row. They won their first premiership, beating Norths Devils 30-20 at Suncorp Stadium. Captain Chris Sheppard won the Duncan Hall Medal for his man-of-the-match performance, which was his last game before retirement.

Grand Final video highlights.

Between Round 14 of the 2010 season and Round 5 of the 2011 season, the Northern Pride won 17 consecutive games, a Queensland Cup record. After a draw in Round 6 and a win in Round 7, the Pride were unbeaten after 19 matches. The Pride finished the 2011 season in second place, but were eliminated after losing the semi-final 26-20 to Tweed Heads Seagulls at Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe.

In 2012, the club finished seventh to miss out on a finals appearance for the first time in their short history. At the end of the season, coach David Maiden resigned, while fullback Chey Bird, who scored 572 points in 94 appearances for the Pride, retired along with former North Queensland Cowboys star Rod Jensen, who scored 36 tries in 69 games for the club, second on the Pride's all-time try scorer list.

2012 season Video Highlights.

Former Super League player Jason Demetriou replaced David Maiden as coach, and Brock Schaefer replaced Chris Sheppard as CEO. The Pride finished first and won their first minor premiership. Head Coach Jason Demetriou was awarded the Men of League Coach of the Year. The Pride lost the major semi-final and the preliminary final, and missed out on a Grand Final appearance. At the end of the season Captain Ty Williams retired.

Coach Jason Demetriou named Brett Anderson and Jason Roos as joint co-captains. Barlow Park was renamed 'The Jungle' and the Pride introduced a new mascot, Barlow the lion. The Pride won 20 of their 24 games (including all 12 home games at Barlow Park) and they took out the minor premiership for the second year in a row. The Pride won the grand final 36-4 against Easts Tigers and won the inaugural NRL State Championship against the New South Wales Cup premiers, Penrith Panthers. At the end of the season four of the Pride's players were offered NRL contracts and Demetriou left to take up the role of assistant coach at the North Queensland Cowboys.

The Northern Pride defended their premiership under new coach Joe O'Callaghan. This was the inaugural season of the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup, who became the third feeder club of the North Queensland Cowboys. The Pride were eliminated 54-26 in the first week of the finals by the Ipswich Jets, who would go on to win the Queensland Cup.

Ty Williams succeeded Joe O'Callaghan as coach.

The Northern Pride made the finals of the Queensland Cup for the first time since 2015, but were eliminated by the Easts Tigers 0–28. This game was played at Stan Williams Park, the home of Cairns Brothers due to the unavailability of Barlow Park.

The Northern Pride lost ten consecutive games during the season, a club record.

The season was cancelled on 27 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

• 2010: NAIDOC Week black jersey designed by Kevin Edmondston (Aboriginal) and Joey Laifoo (Torres Strait Islander) and worn in Round 16, Friday 9 July 2010 at Barlow Park for the game against the Ipswich Jets.
• 2011: NAIDOC Week green jersey worn in Round 15, Friday 8 July 2011 at Barlow Park for the game against the Burleigh Bears.
• 2011: Special NPA (Northern Peninsula Area) indigenous jersey designed by Mario Assan for the Round 20 game played on Saturday 20 August 2011 at Yusia Ginau Oval, Bamaga, Queensland against Souths Logan Magpies. The design incorporates:

The five communities of the NPA Region: Injinoo, Umagico, Bamaga, New Mapoon and Seisia, the communities are represented on the five dots on the boomerang.

The five tribes the Traditional Owners of the NPA Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthati, Yadhaykenu and Gudang. The tribes are depicted through the five rivers that stream from the bottom of the boomerang.

The main centrepiece of the design the Torres Strait Headress (Dhari) traditionally known as a Dhibal, is from Saibai Island, which makes up the majority of the TSI population in the NPA which migrated to the NPA throughout the 1940s. The Dhari as a significant importance in TSI culture, the initiation of young men into warriors, celebrated through dance and ceremonies.

The boomerang represents the Aboriginal peoples of the NPA, used in hunting and gathering and significant ceremonies.

• 2012: Pink socks and pink bootlaces for the Breast Cancer Foundation and Women in League Round, Round 15 played on Saturday 23 June 2012 at Barlow Park against Tweed Heads Seagulls.
• 2012: Orange jersey for the Round 17 game played on Saturday 14 July 2012 at Alec Inch Oval, Mt Isa against Souths Logan Magpies.

Naming rights sponsor:

• 2008–2009: CRGT
• 2010–2013: Skill360
• 2014– : Sea Swift

Jersey sponsor (back of jersey):

• Sea Swift (Northern Pride Platinum partner)
• Brothers Leagues Club, Cairns
• Queensland Country Credit Union (Official Health Fund Provider)

Sleeve sponsor:

• 2008–2010: NQ X-Ray
• 2011–2014: Skytrans
• 2014 Finals Series & 2015–: Rivers Insurance Brokers
• 2016: Rivers Insurance Brokers & LJ Hooker

Shorts sponsor:

• Brothers Leagues Club, Cairns
• Cairns Regional Council
• Fuller Sports
• Intrust Super
• Cairns Hardware

Playing strip manufacturer:

• Emu Sportswear

Other sponsors: XXXX; Gilligans Backpacker Hotel and Resort; Pacific Toyota; Cairns District Rugby League; Calanna Pharmacy; Tropic Wings; GATA Plastering; All Seasons Cairns Colonial Club; Cairns Plan Printing; Yalumba Winery.
Media partners: Sea FM; Zinc 102.7; WIN Television; Cairns Post.

Between 2008 and 2011, Queensland Cup matches were televised by ABC TV, with one match a week shown live across Queensland on ABC1 at 2.00pm (AEST) on Saturday afternoons. The commentary team was Gerry Collins, Warren Boland and David Wright. The Pride had 20 matches televised by the ABC.

In 2012, the Nine Entertainment Network (Channel 9) got the broadcast rights to the Intrust Super Cup, with one match a week shown live across Queensland on Channel 9 or GEM in south-east Queensland, on WIN Television (RTQ) in regional areas, and on Imparja Television in remote areas. From 2013 matches were also broadcast in Papua New Guinea on Kundu 2 TV.

In August 2012 the Australian Rugby League Commission signed a $1 billion five-year broadcasting agreement with Channel 9 and Fox Sports, which meant that one Intrust Super Cup match would shown each week from 2013 to 2017. In 2015 the NRL signed a further $1.8 billion five-year broadcasting agreement with Channel 9 and Fox Sports for the 2018 to 2022 seasons.

Between 2012 and 2017, the televised Intrust Super Cup matches were played at 2.00pm (AEST) on Sunday afternoons (except during coverage of the 2012 London Olympics). The 2012 commentary team was Andrew Voss, Ben Ikin and Nick Curry. The 2013 commentary team was Paul Green, Matthew Thompson, Scott Sattler, Adrian Vowles and Peter Psaltis. The 2014/2015 commentary team was Matthew Thompson, Scott Sattler and Peter Psaltis. In 2018, televised Intrust Super Cup matches were rescheduled and played at 1.00pm (AEST) on Saturday afternoons, but this time slot was unpopular and ratings fell. In 2019 televised Intrust Super Cup matches returned to a 2.00pm (AEST) time-slot on Sunday afternoons.

Between 2012 and 2018, the Pride had 29 matches televised by Channel 9, with eight of these matched being home games. The first game broadcast from Barlow Park, Cairns was Round 13, Sunday 10 June 2012 against the Pride's traditional rivals Mackay Cutters.

From Round 1 2012 the Pride began live streaming their home games free to members via their website ($5 for non-members).[11] From Round 5 2012 away games were streamed through the website as well (Free to members, $5 to non-members).[12] In 2013, all matches (including pre-season trials but excluding matches broadcast live by Channel Nine) were streamed live through the Pride website, with access granted exclusively to Pride members.[13] Video production was by Studio Productions and the commentary team was Adam Jackson and Northern Pride Under-18s coach, Cameron 'Spiller' Miller.