2012 was the fifth competitive season for the Cairns based Skill360 Northern Pride Rugby League Football Club. They were one of 12 clubs that played in the seventeenth season of the top rugby league competition in Queensland, Australia, the QRL's Intrust Super Cup, with each team playing 11 home games and 11 away games over 26 weeks between March and September. In 2012 the Central Comets were renamed the CQ Capras.
A new feature in this season's draw was 'Country Week', which was introduced after the Pride successfully staged a fixture against Souths Logan in the remote Cape York community of Bamaga last year. This year's Country Week fixture was Round 17, held at Alec Inch Oval in the north-western mining town of Mt Isa.
The QRL scrapped the six-team finals series in favour of a five-team qualifying format.
Channel 9 gained the television broadcast rights, and they agreed to broadcast one game from each of the regional clubs in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton. Former broadcast partner, ABC had been unable (or unwilling) to broadcast games from locations outside south-east Queensland, resulting in the relocation of two of the Pride's home semi-finals to Brisbane, where the games were played in front of small crowds at a neutral venue, which disadvantaged the Pride, as well as costing the club a substantial amount of game-day revenue.
The Pride continued to find new ways to interact with fans and the Far North community. The Sea Swift 'Take Pride' program visited remote and regional schools promoting junior rugby league through fun-based rugby league activities and educational presentations. Home games were live-streamed via the Pride website, and from Round 5, away games were streamed as well. Commentary was provided by U-18s coach, Cameron 'Spilla' Miller and WIN TV's Adam Jackson. Pre-game interviews with the coach, half-time interviews with special guests, and post-match wrap-ups with the captain were posted on YouTube under the title 'Pride TV'. A e-newsletter was produced, called 'Pride Pulse' and Brett Anderson wrote a weekly column for the Cairns Post titled 'Pride Insider'.
The Pride had a shaky start to the season, with four straight losses in the first six rounds. One of their problems was the halves combination, having tried Robert Lui with Shaun Nona, then Ryan Ghietti with Nona, then Ghietti with Mitch Seri, and finally Ghietti with Ty Williams. Moving Williams to and taking Rod Jensen off the bench and starting him at helped the Pride win ten of the next sixteen rounds. However poor ball handling, a poor completion rate and poor execution saw them lose matches to lower placed teams. In Round 18 they lost to bottom placed Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles who had only won two games so far. Despite a few good wins in the last few rounds, the Pride finished the season in seventh place, missing out on a finals appearance for the first time in their short history.
At the end of the season, Head 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. Northern Pride 2012 ISC video highlights (7 videos).
2012 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: Cyril Connell Cup U-16s coach: Strength and conditioning coach: Scott Callaghan
Captains Ty Williams Brett Anderson (Pre-season trial match, and Rounds 20 to 22)
Managers Operations manager: Sheron McDougall Team manager: Rob White Club captain: Ben Laity Business development manager: Brock Schaefer Chief executive: Chris Sheppard Chairman: Bob Fowler Board of Directors: Nigel Tillett, David Smith, Craig Meiklejohn, Anthony Mirotsos, Bill Phillips, Bob Fowler.
2012 squad The Pride used 34 players this season. Nineteen 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. Nine new players made their debut this season; seven were new signings (Brent Oosen, Ethan Lowe, Justin Castellaro, Maddie Oosen, Mitchell Seri, Saia Makisi and Scott Gibson), and two were new Cowboys allocation players (Robert Lui* and Wayne Ulugia*).
Ty Williams (c) Alex Starmer Ben Fitzpatrick Ben Laity Ben Spina Brent Oosen Brett Anderson Chey Bird Davin Crampton Ethan Lowe Hezron Murgha Jamie Frizzo
Jason Roos Justin Castellaro Luke Saunders Maddie Oosen Mark Dalle Cort Mitchell Seri Noel Underwood Rod Jensen Ryan Ghietti Saia Makisi Scott Gibson Shaun Nona
Aaron Binawel Billy McConachie Francis Mosby Jamie Kerwick Joel Marama Justin Dolan Masi Nona Rickki Sutherland Rohan Schultz Troyson Bassani Wees Nawia
Blake Leary* Cory Paterson* James Segeyaro* Joel Riethmuller* Kalifa Faifai Loa* Luke Harlen* Ricky Thorby* Robert Lui* Scott Bolton* Wayne Ulugia*
Allocated but did not play for the Pride in 2012: Aaron Payne Ashley Graham Brenton Bowen Dallas Johnson James Tamou Matthew Bowen Ray Thompson
2012 player gains Player From League From Club NotesJamie FrizzoRetirement Northern Pride From retirementEthan Lowe NRL Telstra Premiership Sydney RoostersSaia Makisi Intrust Super Cup Souths Logan MagpiesJoel Marama BRL FOGS Cup Wests Panthers Maddie Oosen CDRL Southern Suburbs Mitch Seri TDRL Herbert River CrushersJustin Castellaro TDRL Herbert River CrushersScott Gibson TDRL Herbert River Crushers Rohan Shulz Mt Isa RLTrial Billy McConnachieMt Isa RLTrial
Player losses after 2011 season Player To League To Club Mark Cantoni French RLF Elite One Championship Baroudeurs de Pia XIII (Pia Donkeys) Sheldon Powe-HobbsNRL Telstra Premiership Melbourne Storm Aidan DayIntrust Super Cup Mackay Cutters Brenton BowenIllness Lancen JoudoReleased Mick WilsonReleased
Cowboys no longer allocated to the Pride Player To League To Club Clint Amos* Retired Jack Cooper* Michael Bani* NRL Telstra Premiership Canberra Raiders Will Tupou* allocated to Mackay Cutters
2012 season launch Pre-Season Training: 22 November 2011 Pre-Season Boot Camp: Djarragun Farm in the Goldsborough Valley – Friday 16-Sunday 18 December 2011. 110 players and coaching staff from all three squads (Intrust Super Cup, Under-18 and Under-16) attended the boot camp. Video Highlights. Photo Shoot: 7 January 2012, Family Day and team photo shoot at Rainforeststation, Kuranda. Season launch: 31 January 2012, Barlow Park. Meet the Players: 10:00 am, 18 February 2012, Hip Pocket Work Wear, Mulgrave Road, Cairns. Jersey Launch: 9 March 2012, Stockland Shopping Centre, Earlville.
2012 player awards Sea Swift Most improved player: Brent Oosen Sea Swift Photographers Choice Award: Scott Gibson Sea Swift Season Members Player of the Year: Alex Starmer Sea Swift Best Back: Brett Anderson Sea Swift Best Forward: Ben Spina Sea Swift Players' Player: Ben Spina John O'Brien Perpetual Club Person of the Year: O'Kane/Wilson Family Skill360 Australia Northern Pride Player of the Year: Ben Spina QRL Carbine Club Rookie of the Year: Ethan Lowe
2012 player records Most Games: Ben Spina (22), Ethan Lowe (22). Most Tries: Brett Anderson (14). Most Points: Brett Anderson (56).
Players signed to first-tier teams Player To League To Club Ethan Lowe NRL Telstra Premiership North Queensland Cowboys
2012 Jerseys
Trial Matches
Skill360 Northern Pride: Unlimited Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. NYC U-20s Cowboys: ?
Skill360 Northern Pride: Unlimited Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. FNQ Indigenous All Stars: Karl Adams, Hayden Brown, Maurice Burke, Shemiah Chinfat, Darren Cobb, Stanley Dai, Peter English, Denley Foster, Dane Furphy, Jovan Gibson, David Grainer, Miles Kerindun, Elron Lawrence, Fitzroy Lawrence, Daryl Lightning, Josh Mene, Densen Misi, Milton Mossman, Charles Murgha, Tim Oberleuter, Clargie Saltmere, Steve Singleton, Santoi Thaiday, Peter Tuccandidgee. Note: Anderson, Dalle Cort and Starmer were the only Pride regulars in the side, with train and trial and CDRL players filling the other positions.
Skill360 Northern Pride: CANCELLED * = Cowboys allocation. Cory Paterson*, Kalifa Faifai Loa*, Luke Harlen*, Joel Riethmuller*, Ricky Thorby* and James Segeyaro*. Note: The Pride's plane was struck by lightning twice en route to Moranbah. After the first strike the Skytrans charter flight turned back to Cairns, when the plane sustained a damaged windscreen as a result of a second strike.
Skill360 Northern Pride: All 33 players in the current squad played in this scratch match. Note: After the Moranbah trial game was cancelled, coach David Maiden arranged an in-house scratch match.
Intrust Super Cup matches
Skill360 Northern Pride: Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Ryan Ghietti (hand). Ipswich Jets: 1. Javarn White, 2. Ramon Filipine, 3. Donald Malone, 4. Brendan Marshall, 5. Jarrod McInally, 6. Brendon Lindsay, 7. Todd Riggs, 8. Tyson Lofipo, 9. Michael Fisher, 10. Rowan Winterfield, 11. Nathaniel Neale, 12. Lorenzo Maafu, 13. Sam Martin. Interchange: 14. Ian Lacey, 15. Luke Page, 16. Smith Samau, 17. Kurtis Lingwoodock. Coaches: Ben Walker and Shane Walker. Note: Game played in very wet conditions.This was the Pride debut for Ethan Lowe (Pride Player 078) and North Queensland Cowboys allocation player Robert Lui* (Pride Player 077). PositionRound 1 – 2012PWDLForAgainstDiffPts5 Northern Pride11002214+82
Skill360 Northern Pride: Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Chey Bird (ankle), Ryan Ghietti (hand). Mackay Cutters: 1. David Milne, 2. Bureta Faraimo, 3. Moses Pangai, 4. Michael Comerford, 5. Michael Thomas, 6. Grant Rovelli, 7. Michael Morgan, 8. Lewis Balcomb, 9. Neil Budworth, 10. Dane Hogan, 11. Jason Schirnack, 12. Tyson Martin, 13. Jardine Bobongie. Interchange: 14. Kelvin Nielsen, 15. Chris Gesch, 16. Zac Dalton, 17. Sam Hoare, 18. Luke Young. Coach: Anthony Seibold. Note: Game played in heavy rain and poor conditions. PositionRound 2 – 2012PWDLForAgainstDiffPts4 Northern Pride22003620+164
Skill360 Northern Pride: Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Chey Bird (ankle), Scott Bolton* (knee), Robert Lui* (stood down by the Cowboys after pleading guilty to assaulting his girlfriend). Easts Tigers: 1. Corey Thompson, 2. Eddie Tautali, 3. Shane Neumann (c), 4. Lance Morris, 5. Ryan Tongia, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Isaac Kaufmann, 8. Liam McDonald, 9. Geoff Holcombe, 10. Matt Zgrajewski, 11. Steven Thorpe, 12. Wiremu Ratana, 13. Leon Panapa. Interchange: 14. Mitchell Garbutt, 15. Kenny Bromwich, 17. Luke Kelly, 19. Shea Moylan. Coach: Troy McCarthy. Note: This was the Pride's 100th match in the Queensland Cup (65 wins, 33 losses and 2 drawn matches).It was also Hezron Murgha's 50th match for the Pride. PositionRound 3 – 2012PWDLForAgainstDiffPts4 Northern Pride32015850+84
Skill360 Northern Pride: Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Chey Bird (ankle), Scott Bolton* (knee). Souths Logan Magpies: 1. Josh Damen, 2. Walter Imo, 3. Dallas Anderson, 4. Matt Templeman, 5. Wade Liddell, 6. Ben Cronin, 7. Dane Phillips, 8. Dario Esposito, 9. Dan Humphreys, 10. Matt Cameron, 11. Andrew Edwards, 12. Sam Gardel, 13. Phil Dennis (c). Interchange: 14. James Tutuila, 15. Darcy Wright, 16. Cadence Matene, 17. Simanu Crichton. Coach: Mark Beaumont. Note: This was the Ben Laity's 100th appearance for the Pride, having only missed one match since the club formed. It was also his 174th Queensland Cup appearance (having previously played for the North Queensland Young Guns and Easts Tigers).This was the first time Souths Logan Magpies won at Barlow Park, having lost all four previous appearances (2008–2011).This was the Pride debut for Mitchell Seri (Pride Player 079).