2016 was the ninth competitive season for the Cairns based Sea Swift Northern Pride Rugby League Football Club. They were one of 14 clubs that played in the twenty-first season of Queensland's top rugby league competition, QRL's Intrust Super Cup, with each team playing 12 home games and 11 away games over 25 weeks between March and August.
Five experienced players retired at the end of the 2015 season: Alex Starmer, Semi Tadulala and Sam Obst along with co-captains Brett Anderson and Jason Roos retired, and Hezron Murgha retired from the Cowboys and signed with the Blackhawks. Between them they had played almost 700 QCup games.[1] The new squad for 2016 was much younger, with an average age of 21, the youngest squad the Pride ever had.[2] The new captain was Ryan Ghietti, who had represented Italy at the 2013Rugby League World Cup, had played 96 QCup games, and had joined the Pride from Redcliffe Dolphins in 2011. Jack Svendsen was vice-captain, with Luke George filling the role during pre-season trials. A new senior leadership group was selected with the captain and vice-captains joined by Justin Castellaro and Tom Hancock.
Bob Fowler stood down as Chairman, a position he had held since 2009. He was replaced by interim chairman Terry Mackenroth, who had been Deputy Premier of Queensland and a former director of Queensland Rugby League and the Australian Rugby League.[4] Mackenroth restructured the club's corporate governance and changed the Pride from an incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee, which was one of the requirements of the NRL's elite pathways.[5]
One of the changes suggested was to rename the Northern Pride. The introduction of the Townsville Blackhawks into the competition last year led some Board members to suggest the Pride should be rebranded to reflect the Cairns and Far North Queensland region. The idea was soon shouted down by players and fans.
In order to try and boost crowd numbers, home games were moved from Saturday evenings, to 3:00pm Sunday afternoons, in what the CEO thought was a more family friendly time slot.[6]
In an effort the generate income (the Pride being one of only five QCup teams that are not supported by gambling revenue from a leagues club), the Pride offered businesses the opportunity to sponsor an individual player's jersey for $6,500. The concept had been introduced in the NRL, but was a first for the Intrust Super Cup.[7]
The QRL reduced the number of interchanges this year, following the NRL, dropping interchanges from ten to eight per game. The Pride suffered from a raft of injuries at the end of last season, and so this year they introduced a 'High Performance Unit' made up of doctors, physios, dieticians and coaches who worked with the players to curb injuries and ensure player peaked at the right times. The club introduced GPS tracking for players to monitor workloads.[8]
Although the Pride had some good wins, 48-0 against Tweed Heads in Round 6, and beat five of the top seven sides, consistency and defence were troublesome for the young side. The Pride won just 11 of their 23 matches and finished in eighth place, their worst season to date. For the first time they lost more home games than they won, and for the second time in their history they missed out on playing in the finals.
At the end of the season, coach Joe O'Callaghan resigned to take up an assistant coaching position at Wynnum-Manly.[9] The players became increasingly unhappy with their options for next year, with some claiming they were offered reduced deals. Several players signed to other clubs. After the final round of the season, the board sacked CEO Rod Jensen.[10] Former Pride player, Chey Bird, was appointed interim CEO.
Board of Directors: Tony Williamson (sponsorship), Colin Moore (CDRL chairman), Ian Lydiard (CDJRL president), Troy McGuane, (Cairns Post sales manager), Gail Andrejic (finance), Stephen Tillett, Rob White (football), Eleanor Scott (government).
Squad
The Pride used just 27 players this season. Fourteen players from last year signed with the club again, and three of the Cowboys allocation players from last year were assigned to the Pride again this year. Ten new players made their debut this season; eight were new signings (Akeripa Tia-Kilifi, Ben Reuter, Brayden Torpy, Khan Ahwang and Rajan Opetaia-Halls, with Colin Wilkie, Fred Koraba and Greg Miglio signed to the Club via the Pride's CDRL Portability Program), and two were new Cowboys allocation players (Coen Hess* and Shaun Hudson*).
Ryan Ghietti (c) – HK Jack Svendsen (vc) – PR Aidan Day Akeripa Tia-Kilife – WG, CE Ben Reuter – SR Brayden Torpy – HB Colin Wilkie – SR David Murphy – PR Denzel King – HB Frederick Koraba Greg Miglio – CE
Pre-season boot camp: 23-24 January 2016, Etty Bay Surf Life Saving Club and Callendar Park, Innisfail.
2016 Corporate Launch:
2016 ISC Season Launch: Friday, 4 March 2016 at the Treasury Casino's Hotel Courtyard, Brisbane, hosted by Channel 9 commentators Scott Sattler and Peter Psaltis, guests heard from QRL Managing Director Robert Moore, Chairman Peter Betros and Intrust Super CEO Brendan O'Farrell.
Sea Swift Northern Pride: 1. Linc Port – FB2. Shawn Bowen – WG3. Greg Miglio – CE4. Akeripa Tia-Kilifi – CE5. Luke George – WG6. Jared Allen – FE7. Brayden Torpy – HB8. Ben Schell – PR9. Denzel King – HK10. David Murphy – PR11. Col Wilkie – SR12. Tom Hancock (c) – SR13. Ben Reuter – LK
Unlimited Interchange: 14. Keelan White, 15. Lachlan Parmenter, 16. Rajan Opetaia-Halls, 17. Ian King, 18. Corey Child (U-20s), 19. Aiden Lee (U-20s), 20. Jared Burton (U-20s).
Unavailable: Jordan Biondi-Odo (ankle), Justin Castellaro (rib), Menmuny Murgha (fractured jaw), Sheldon Powe-Hobbs (selected to play for the Cowboys.
CDRL Indigenous All Stars: 1. Septimus Ambrym (Yarrabah Seahawks), 2. Tim Savage (Tully Tigers), 3. Sam Bann (Yarrabah Seahawks), 4. Rikki Sutherland (Southern Suburbs), 5. Cephas Chinfat (Southern Suburbs), 6. James Doolah (Cairns Brothers), 7. Charlie Murgha (Yarrabah Seahawks), 8. Dave Oui (Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks), 9. Eddie Daniel (Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks), 10. Dan Sagigi (Innisfail Leprechauns), 11. Joel Marama (Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks), 12. Brent Oosen (Southern Suburbs), 13. Jordan Ketchell (Tully Tigers).
Interchange: 14. Rob Amber (Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks), 15. Milton Mossman (Yarrabah Seahawks), 16. Kyle Kris (Innisfail Leprechauns), 17. Brayden Grogan (Ivanhoes), 18. Daryl Lightning (Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks), 19. Boshay Satrick (Southern Suburbs), 20. Jubei Doi (Cairns Kangaroos).
Tries: Ryan Ghietti1 Khan Awahng 1 Shawn Bowen 1 Bonus tries: Ryan Ghietti1 Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi 2 Ned Blackman 1 Drop kick conversion: Khan Ahwang 3 (3 from 3) Fred Korobe 2 (2 from 3) Shawn Bowen 1 (1 from 1)
The Edmonton Super 9s Carnival was held over two days. Day 1:
Home
Score
Away
Saturday 13 February
Northern Pride
15 – 0
Burdekin Roosters
Game 4, 3:30pm
Northern Pride
30 – 5
Edmonton Lightning
Game 7, 4:30pm
Northern Pride
17 – 21
Brothers Cairns
Game 10, 5:30pm
Northern Pride
Pride won
Yarrabah Seahawks
Game 15, 7:10pm
Day 2:
Home
Score
Away
Sunday 14 February
Northern Pride
39 – 0
Edmonton Lightning
Quarter-final, 10:00am
Northern Pride
25 – 4
Brothers Cairns
Semi-final, 12:30pm
Northern Pride
43 – 7
Edmonton Storm
Grand-final, 2:15pm
Sea Swift Northern Pride Super 9s: 2. Khan Ahwang, 3. Shawn Bowen, 6. Jared Allen, 7. Ned Blackman, 8. Jack Svendsen (vc), 9. Ryan Ghietti (c), 10. Rajan Opetaia-Halls, 15. Ben Reuter. 11. Fred Koraba.
Unlimited Interchange: 4. Matthew Musumeci (U-20s), 5. Jack Willis (U-20s), 12. Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi, 13. Jacob Wallace (U-20s), 14. Whyatt Barnes (U-20s), 16. Patrick Lewis.
Coaches: Leon Hallie and Darren Ferricks.
Note: The winning team received $3,000.
Pre-season Trial 3 Saturday 20 February 2016 16:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Tries: 1 Jared Allen 1 Linc Port 1 Shaun Hudson* 1 Jack Svendsen Goals: 4 Khan Ahwang (4 from 4)
Sunshine Coast Stadium (Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina, Kawana Waters, QLD) Referee: Christopher Butler & Tyson Brough. Interchange Official: Bruce McGill. Touch Judges: Alexander Mallory & Andrew Wareham. Player of the Match: Ben Hampton*.
Sunshine Coast Falcons: 1. Eddie Tautali, 2. Tony Tumusa*, 3. Curtis Scott*, 4. Matt Grieve, 5. Rowan Klein, 6. Alex Bishop, 7. Ryley Jacks, 15. Tui Kamikamica, 9. Nafe Seluini, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Pat Hollis, 12. Joe Stimson*, 13. Troy Giess (c). Ben Hampton*
Interchange: 14. Robbie Ward, 16. Callum Klein, 17. Jacob Samoa, 18. Martin Cordwell, 21. Ryan Hansen.
* = Melbourne Storm allocation (3 players allocated for this match).
Coach: Craig Ingebrigtsen.
Note: This match was broadcast at live on Channel 9 with Matthew Thompson, Scott Sattler and Peter Psaltis as the commentary team. This was the Pride debut for Khan Ahwang, Brayden Torpy and Akeripa Tia-Kilifi (Pride Players 121, 123 & 124), and North Queensland Cowboys allocation player Shaun Hudson* (Pride Player 122).
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Tim Rutherford Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci Touch Judges: Kane Schwartz & Liam Kennedy
Tries: 1 Linc Port 1 Khan Ahwang 1 Vaipuna Tia-Kalifi 1Luke George
Goals: 2 Khan Ahwang (2 from 4)
Albert Bishop Park (Hedley Avenue, Nundah QLD) Referee: Nicholas Morel. Interchange Official: Bruce McGill. Touch Judges: Marcus Schooth & Benjamin Watts.
Note: This was Ryan Ghietti's 100th Intrust Super Cup game for the Pride. Ghieti became the eighth Pride player to reach 100 games after Jason Roos (165 games), Brett Anderson (128), Ben Spina* (122), Alex Starmer (120), Ben Laity (117), Hezron Murgha (103) and Joel Riethmuller (100). This was the Pride debut for Colin Wilkie and Rajan Opetaia-Halls (Pride Players 125 & 126). Wilkie last played QCup nine years ago for the North Queensland Young Guns.
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Nicholas Pelgrave. Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci. Touch Judges: Kurt Igesund & Stephen Kanowski.
Tries: 1 Ayden Lee 1 Whetu Austin 1 Brentt Warr Goals: 2Billy Walters (2 from 3)
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Christopher Anderson. Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci. Touch Judges: Alexander Mallory & Peter Mackinnon.
Pride In: Javid Bowen* (centre), Jordan Biondi-Odo (bench), Akeripa Tia-Kilifi (bench).
Changes: Justin Castellaro (centre to wing), Ben Spina* (lock to front row), Tom Hancock (bench to lock).
Easts Tigers: 1. Guy Hamilton, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Jamie Anderson, 4. Luke Lavelle, 17. Whetu Austin, 6. Billy Walters, 7. Brentt Warr, 8. Matt White, 9. Chris Ostwald, 10. Matthew Zgrajewski, 11. Ayden Lee , 12. Dane Hogan (c), 13. Dean Britt.
Interchange: 14. Francis Tualau, 15. Liam McDonald, 16. Christian Welch, 18. Foisa Peni.
Tries: 1 Peter Gubb 1 Mitchell Moore 1 Patrick Templeman 1 Mitchell Buckett 1 Greg Eden 1 Mitchell Cronin Goals: 5 Patrick Templeman (5 from 6)
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Nicholas Morel Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci Touch Judges: Kane Schwartz & Peter Mackinnon
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Christopher Anderson, Nicholas Pelgrave. Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci. Touch Judges: Kane Schwartz & Peter Mackinnon.
Changes: David Murphy (front row to bench), Jack Svendsen (second row to lock), Tom Hancock (lock to second row)
Redcliffe Dolphins: 1. Luke Capewell, 2. Jonus Pearson, 3. Jack Ahearn, 4. Daniel Randall, 5. Thomas Opacic, 6. Zach Strasser, 7. Darren Nicholls, 8. Samuel Anderson (c), 9. Shane Pumipi, 10. Rulon Nutira, 11. Anthony Cherrington, 12. Johnnie Fox, 13. Christopher Gesch.
Interchange: 14. Christian Hazard, 15. Tyson Andrews, 16. Charlie Faingaa, 22. Joseph Bradley.
Coach: Adam Mogg.
Note: This match was shown live on Channel 9 with Matthew Thompson, Scott Sattler and Peter Psaltis as the commentary team.
Tries: 1 Hayden Schwass 1 Kurtis Rowe 1 Waka Wanahi 1 Oliver Regan Goals: 3Jamal Fogarty (3 from 4) Penalty Goal: 1Jamal Fogarty
Roosters Stadium Atherton (Atherton Showgrounds, Louise Street, Atherton, QLD) Referee: Michael Gordon Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci Touch Judges: Kurt Igesund & Peter Mackinnon
Tries: 1 Luke Archer 1Marion Seve 1 Scott Doyle 1George Fai Goals: 3 Scott Doyle (3 from 4) Penalty Goal: 1 Scott Doyle
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Clayton Sharpe. Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci. Touch Judges: Kurt Igesund & Peter Mackinnon.
Souths Logan Magpies: 1. Jack Joass, 2. Cameron Booth, 3. Scott Doyle, 4. Marion Seve, 5. Luke Archer, 6. Phillip Dennis (c), 7. Samuel Scarlett, 8. Aotealofa Tuimavave, 9. Travis Waddell, 10. Andrew Edwards, 11. Leon Panapa, 12. Daniel Tamou, 13. Joseph Boyce.
Interchange: 14. Jack Anderson, 16. George Fai, 17. Daniel Russell, 18. Bradley Frith, 20. Taeao Kepu.
Unavailable: Herman Ese'ese.
Coach: Josh Hannay.
Note: Jack Svendsen was placed on report for a shoulder charge. Ben Spina* suffered an ankle injury.
Changes: Justin Castellaro (centre to wing), Luke George (wing to bench), Jared Allen (five-eighth to bench), Ryan Ghietti (c) (hooker to five-eighth), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (second row to bench), Jordan Biondi-Odo (bench to hooker), Colin Wilkie (bench to second row), Rajan Opetaia-Halls (bench to lock).
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Nicholas Morel. Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci. Touch Judges: Kane Schwartz & Peter Mackinnon.
Virgin Australia Stadium (Bridge Road, South Mackay, QLD) Referee: Clayton Sharpe. Interchange Official: Kevin Valentine. Touch Judges: Kurt Sheater & Christian Strang.
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Tim Rutherford. Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci. Touch Judges: Kurt Igesund & Peter Mackinnon.
Pride In: Greg Miglio (centre), Tom Hancock (second row), Colin Wilkie (lock), Luke George (bench).
Changes: Rajan Opetaia-Halls (front row to bench), Benjamin Reuter (second row to bench), David Murphy (lock to front row), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (bench to second row), Sheldon Powe-Hobbs (bench to front row)
Ipswich Jets: 1. Wesley Conlon, 18. Michael Purcell, 3. Ben White, 4. Nemani Valekapa, 5. Richard Pandia, 14. Christopher Ash, 7. Dane Phillips, 22. Tyson Lofipo, 9. Mikaere Beattie, 16. Billy McConnachie, 21. Jesse Roberts, 11. Samuel Martin, 10. Nathaniel Neale.
Interchange: 6. Haydan Lipp, 8. David Fa'alogo, 12. Liam Capewell, 13. Fakahoko Teutau, 15. Sebastian Pandia.
Tries: Nicholas Harrold 1 Patrick Templeman 1 Daniel Ogden 1 Alex Barr 1 Goals: Matt Seamark (4 from 4) 4 Penalty Goals: Matt Seamark 1 Patrick Templeman 1
Changes: Justin Castellaro (wing to centre), David Murphy (front row to bench), Colin Wilkie (lock to bench), Rajan Opetaia-Halls (bench to front row), Luke George (bench to wing).
Wynnum Manly Seagulls: 1. Daniel Ogden, 2. Peter Gubb, 3. Mitchell Cronin, 4. Mitchell Buckett, 19. Hayden Crowley, 6. Patrick Templeman, 7. Matt Seamark, 8. Magnus Stromquist, 9. Alehana Mara, 10. Aaron Rockley, 11. A. Tuimavave-Gerrard, 12. Alex Barr, 13. Nicholas Harrold.
Interchange: 14. Mitchell Moore, 15. Tim Natusch, 16. Salesi Funaki, 17. Stephen Coombe.
Changes: Ryan Ghietti (c) (five-eighth to hooker), Jordan Biondi-Odo (hooker to five-eighth), Sheldon Powe-Hobbs (front row to bench), Tom Hancock (second row to bench), David Murphy (bench to front row), Colin Wilkie (bench to second row).
Redcliffe Dolphins: 1. Josh Beehag, 2. Jonus Pearson, 3. Jack Ahearn, 4. Dan Randall, 5. Curtis Johnston, 6. Zach Strasser, 7. Darren Nicholls, 8. Samuel Anderson (c), 9. Shane Pumipi, 10. Charlie Faingaa, 11. Harley Aiono, 12. Daniel Bridge, 13. Christopher Gesch.
Interchange: 14. Christian Hazard, 15. Brandon Lee, 16. Taylor Brown, 17. Johnnie Fox.
* = Cowboys allocation (3 players allocated for this match).
Pride Out: Brayden Torpy (halfback), Aidan Day (bench).
Pride In: Jack Svendsen (second row), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (bench).
Changes: David Murphy (front row to bench), Colin Wilkie (second row to bench), Ben Spina* (lock to front row), Tom Hancock (bench to lock), Jared Allen (bench to halfback).
Burleigh Bears: 1. Kurtis Rowe, 2. Waka Wanahi, 3. Sami Sauiluma, 4. Connor Broadhurst, 5. Olly Regan, 6. Daniel Schwass, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Luke Page, 9. Pat Politini, 18. Nathaniel Peteru, 11. Jamie Dowling, 12. Hayden Schwass, 15. Lachlan Burr.
Interchange: 10. Paterika Vaivai, 13. Jeff Lynch, 16. Josh Ailaomai, 17. Louis Fanene.
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Tim Rutherford. Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci. Touch Judges: Kurt Igesund & Kane Schwartz.
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Jarrod Cole. Interchange Official: Pietro Narducci. Touch Judges: Kurt Igesund & Peter Mackinnon.
Interchange: 9. Joshua Mitchell, 15. Aleki Falepaini, 16. William Cullen, 19. Jake Ainsworth, 20. Ayden Cooper, 22. John Filipo.
Coach: Kim Williams.
Note: Severasl players left the club at the end of the season, including: Linc Port, Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi, Rajan Opetaia-Halls, David Murphy, Brayden Torpy and Greg Miglio. This was the last game for coach Joe O' Callaghan who completed his two-year contract. Next season he will be replaced by Ty Williams. Khan Ahwang was the highest point scorer in the regular season with 204 points.