2011 was the fourth competitive season for the Cairns based Skill360 Northern Pride Rugby League Football Club. They were one of 12 Australian clubs that played in the sixteenth 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 September.

Pride Oval and Leagues Club on Irene Street, Mooroobool were costing the club about $19,000 a month to run, an unsustainable drain on their funds. Plans to build a sports facility were delayed due to the 2008 financial crisis and at the end of 2010, the club sold the facility to Cairns Regional Council for $2.5 million. Council agreed to maintain the facility as a sports field for the community and not allow residential development at the site. The Pride were given a six-month lease, and when it expired in May 2011, the club decided not to renew and moved their training sessions back to Jones Park, Westcourt. Pride Oval was leased to CDRL Kangaroos, and became Vico Oval and Kangaroos Leagues Club once again. The Pride's continued to play home games at Barlow Park and the administration offices were at Mann Street.

Foundation captain Chris Sheppard retired after the Grand Final win last year, and was appointed as CEO, replacing John Moore. The new captain was Ty Williams, who began playing rugby league in Innisfail, played for the Cairns Cyclones in QCup, played 151 games for the NRL's North Queensland Cowboys (2002–2010) as a , and , scoring 85 tries, the third-most in club history. He represented Queensland in State of Origin and played for the Indigenous All Stars (2008, 2010).Round 1 Queensland Intrust Super Cup Preview rleague.com, 18 March 2011 As one of the Cowboy's player allocation, Williams had made 25 appearances for the Pride between 2008 and 2010, scoring 12 tries, before retiring from the Cowboys at the end of 2010.

The Pride gained a mascot for home games, 'Rambo the Razorback'. The Round 20 away game against Souths Logan Magpies was relocated from the Magpies home ground in Brisbane to Yusia Ginau Oval, Bamaga on Cape York in an effort to raise money for the Magpies who were struggling to attract crowds at their home venue. Both teams wore special Indigenous themed jerseys and the game attracted 2000 spectators, and was so successful that the following year, QRL introduced the 'Country Week' concept.

The Pride started the year strong, winning the first five rounds. This meant the Pride had not lost a game since Round 13 last year - 17 consecutive wins, a Queensland Cup record, previously held by the Burleigh Bears and North Queensland Young Guns with 16 consecutive wins. Their Round 5 win, 60–10 over the SC Sea Eagles was the biggest winning score in the Pride's history and the first time they had beaten the Sunny Coast. The victory set several club records, including the biggest winning margin in the club's history, the most tries by the Pride in a single game, and the most goals in a single Pride game (Chey Bird, 10). After a draw in Round 6 and a win in Round 7, they were unbeaten after 19 matches. In Round 8 the Pride led the Cutters 12–0 at half-time, but were beater 22–18, their first defeat in eleven months.

The Pride finished the 2011 season in second place, and had a decisive victory in their home Preliminary Final against the Ipswich Jets, but were eliminated after losing the semi-final 26–20 to Tweed Heads Seagulls. Although the Pride were entitled to host the semi-final, the match was scheduled to be televised, and ABC TV still did not have the ability for outside broadcast from FNQ, so the match was played at Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe. This was the second time a Pride home finals game had been moved to Brisbane to accommodate the ABC's lack of flexibility, (the other time was in 2009), and the Pride lost substantial amount of game-day revenue playing in front of a small crowd at a neutral venue.

2011 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: Leon Hallie Cyril Connell Cup U-16s coach: Cameron 'Spilla' Miller Strength and conditioning coach: Scott Callaghan

Captains Ty Williams Ben Laity (Pre-season Trial) Chey Bird (Pre-season Trial, Rounds 10-17 & 20)

Managers Team manager: Rob White Office Manager: Sheron McDougall Club captain: Ben Laity Business development manager: Brock Schaefer Chief executive: Chris Sheppard Chairman: Bob Fowler Board of Directors: Nigel Tillett, Craig Meiklejohn, Anthony Mirotsos, Bob Fowler.

2011 squad The Pride used 34 players this season. Sixteen players from last year signed with the club again, and two of the Cowboys allocation players from last year were assigned to the Pride again this year. Fifteen new players made their debut this season; eight were new signings (Aidan Day, Davin Crampton, Lancen Joudo, Luke Saunders, Mick Wilson, Ryan Ghietti, Shaun Nona and Sheldon Powe-Hobbs), and seven were new Cowboys allocation players (Blake Leary*, Cory Paterson*, Jack Cooper*, James Segeyaro*, Kalifa Faifai Loa*, Ricky Thorby* and Will Tupou*). Ty Williams, who had played 25 games for the Pride as a Cowboys allocated player between 2008 and 2010, retired from the NRL and signed to the Pride. Joel Riethmuller* signed to the Cowboys and was allocated to the Pride.

Ty Williams (c) Aidan Day Alex Starmer Ben Fitzpatrick Ben Laity Ben Spina Brenton Bowen Brett Anderson Chey Bird Davin Crampton Hezron Murgha Jason Roos

Lancen Joudo Luke Harlen Luke Saunders Mark Cantoni Mark Dalle Cort Mick Wilson Noel Underwood Rod Jensen Ryan Ghietti Shaun Nona Sheldon Powe-Hobbs

Aisea Namoa Francis Mosby Nathan Kepa Theeran Pearson Tom Hancock

Blake Leary* Cory Paterson* James Segeyaro* Jack Cooper* Joel Riethmuller* Kalifa Faifai Loa* Michael Bani* Ricky Thorby* Scott Bolton* Rounds 1-6: Pride; Rounds 7-22: Mackay Cutters: Clint Amos* Will Tupou* Allocated but did not play for the Pride in 2011: Carl Webb*

2011 player gains Player From League From Club NotesTy Williams NRL Telstra Premiership North Queensland CowboysAidan Day NRL U-20s North Queensland CowboysLuke Harlen NRL Telstra Premiership Cronulla SharksLancen Joudo NRL Telstra Premiership Cronulla SharksRyan Ghietti Intrust Super Cup Redcliffe DolphinsMick Wilson Intrust Super Cup Redcliffe DolphinsShaun Nona CDRL Tully TigersSheldon Powe-Hobbs CDRL Kangaroos (Cairns) RLFCFrancis Mosby CDRL Kangaroos (Cairns) RLFCLuke Saunders CDRL Southern SuburbsDavin Crampton Mid West RL Normanton StingersHezron Murgha Return from injury Northern PrideNathaniel Bowman QRL Townsville Blackhawks Bowman signed for the Pride, but did not turn up for training.He reneged on the deal, signing with CQ Comets instead.

Player losses after 2010 season Player To League To Club Chris Sheppard RetiredPride's Captain 2008–2010 Ryan Stig NRL Telstra Premiership Newcastle Knights Jaiman Lowe NRL Telstra Premiership South Sydney Rabbitohs Joel Riethmuller NRL Telstra Premiership North Queensland Cowboys Rod Griffin Intrust Super Cup Tweed Heads Seagulls Jamie Frizzo Retired to coach CDRL Ivanhoes Knights Chris Riesen CDRL Brothers Cairns Drew Campbell CDRL Brothers Cairns Sonny Rea Rugby Samoa Samoa national rugby union team Kane Manihera Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia

Cowboys no longer allocated to the Pride Player To League To Club Carl Webb* NRL Telstra Premiership Parramatta Eels Manase Manuokafoa* NRL Telstra Premiership Parramatta Eels John Williams* NRL Telstra Premiership Cronulla Sharks Nick Slyney* NRL Telstra Premiership Brisbane Broncos James Tamou* NRL Telstra Premiership North Queensland Cowboys

2011 season launch Pre-Season Training: 23 November 2010. Pre-Season Boot Camp: Djarragun Farm in the Goldsborough Valley, 18–19 December 2010. 110 players and coaching staff from all three squads (First Grade, Under-18 and Under-16) attended the boot camp. Corporate launch: 14 March 14, 2011, Cairns Colonial Club, Manoora. Season launch: 12 March 2011, Esplanade Lagoon, Cairns.

2011 player awards Friday 30 September 2011, All Seasons Colonial Club, Manunda Northern Pride Player of the Year: Jason Roos Inaugural Calanna Pharmacy Member's Player of the Year: Chey Bird Players' Player: Joel Riethmuller Best back player: Brett Anderson Best forward player: Luke Harlen Most improved player: Ben Spina John O'Brien Perpetual Club Person of the Year: Chey Bird Australia Day Awards, 25 January 2011: Senior Sports Person Award: Chris Sheppard.

2011 player records (Records to end of the 2011 season) Most Games – Ben Laity 96, Mark Cantoni 89, Chey Bird 85, Jason Roos 81, Joel Riethmuller* 67. Most Points – Chey Bird 542, Tom Humble 174, Rod Jensen 136, Ryan Stig 128, Brett Anderson 116. Most Tries – Rod Jensen 34, Brett Anderson 29, Mark Cantoni 25, Chey Bird 22, Tom Humble 20. Brett Anderson scored 15 tries this season – the highest try scorer for the Pride and the third highest in the Intrust Super Cup this season. Chey Bird scored 198 points this season – 4 tries and 91 goals. He was the second highest point scorer in the Intrust Super Cup this season.

2011 representative players Mark Cantoni (2011 World Cup Qualifier), 2 appearances.

Players selected for the 2011 Queensland Residents team Brett Anderson Hezron Murgha.

Players signed to first-tier teams Player To League To Club Luke Harlen NRL Telstra Premiership North Queensland Cowboys Sheldon Powe-Hobbs NRL Telstra Premiership Melbourne Storm Mark Cantoni French RLF Elite One Championship Baroudeurs de Pia XIII (Pia Donkeys)

2011 Jerseys

Special playing strips 2011: NAIDOC Week green jersey worn in Round 15, Friday 8 July 2010 at Barlow Park for the game against the Burleigh Bears. 2011: Special NPA Region indigenous jersey designed by Mario Assan for the Round 20 game, Saturday 20 August 2011 at Yusia Ginau Oval, Bamaga 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 Region (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

Trial Matches

Skill360 Northern Pride: , , , , , , , , , , , , Unlimited Interchange: , , , , , , . Trackson Innisfail Leprechauns: ?

Skill360 Northern Pride: Unlimited Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Rod Jensen (ribs). NYC U-20s Cowboys: ? Note: This match was the opening game for the NRL trial between the North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans, which was due to be played at the new Stadium Mackay, but was moved to Cairns when wet weather delayed the laying of the Mackay playing surface.

Skill360 Northern Pride: Interchange: Unavailable: Joel Riethmuller* (signed to North Queensland Cowboys), Rod Jensen (ribs). Aitkenvale Sporting Association Centrals Tigers: ? Note: The Pride had hoped to play this trial in PNG against the PNG Kumuls.

Skill360 Northern Pride: Unlimited Interchange: * = Cowboys allocation. Unavailable: Joel Riethmuller* (signed to the Cowboys), Rod Jensen (ribs). Burdekin Roosters: ?

Intrust Super Cup matches