2010 was the third competitive season for the Cairns based Skill360 Northern Pride Rugby League Football Club. They competed in the QRL state competition, the Intrust Super Cup. 12 clubs competed, with each club playing 22 matches (11 home and 11 away) over 25 weeks.
David Maiden was appointed as the Pride's new coach. In the latter half of the season the Pride won 11 consecutive matches and finished in fourth place. They made the Grand Final, beating Norths Devils 30–20 at Suncorp Stadium to become Premiers. Captain Chris Sheppard won the Duncan Hall Medal for his man-of-the-match performance in the Grand Final, which was his last game before retirement.
2010 Season – Skill360 Northern Pride
Staff
Coach: David Maiden
Assistant coaches: David Westley & Cameron Miller
Team captain: Chris Sheppard
Club captain: Ben Laity
Chief executive: John Moore
Chairman: Bob Fowler
Operations manager: Chris Sheppard
Competition: Wizard Queensland Cup
2010 Player awards
Cairns Post most improved player – Noel Underwood
Cairns Colonial Club Resort best back – Brett Anderson
Taxsmart best forward – Mark Cantoni
Skytrans players' player – Ben Laity
QCCU John O’Brien club person of the year – Cameron Miller
Skill360 Australia player of the year – Joel Riethmuller
Duncan Hall Medal Winner – Chris Sheppard
2010 player gains
Ryan Stig from NRL Newcastle Knights
Brett Anderson from NRL Melbourne Storm
Brenton Bowen from NRL Gold Coast Titans
Jaiman Lowe from NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs – Lowe was released mid-season after resigning with the Rabbitohs after Ben Ross's season ended after a neck injury. Theeran Pearson from NYC Newcastle Knights Under 20s Jay Aston from Queensland Cup Norths Devils Mark Dalle Cort from Super League Celtic Crusaders Ben Fitzpatrick from CDRL Brothers (Cairns) Freddie Fauid from CDRL Brothers (Cairns) Nick Obodin from CDRL Brothers (Cairns) Taputoa Sonny Rea from CDRL Kangaroos RLFC Ben Spina from TDRL Herbert River Crushers Aisea Namoa
Player losses after 2009 season
Tom Humble to Parramatta Eels
Germaine Paulson to Burleigh Bears
Hezron Murgha (out for the year for knee surgery) Richie Marsters to TDRL Tully Tigers Gordon Rattler to MDRL Souths Mackay Adam Mills (released) Callan Myles (released) Josh Vaughan (released) Luke Harlen (released) Luke Millwood (released) Chris Riesen
2010 Season Launch
Saturday 6 March 2010, 9.00am-11.00am – Airfirst, 124 Anderson Street, Manunda.
Pre Season Boot Camp
Undara, Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 January 2010.
Grand Final Premiers Presentation
Tuesday 21 September 2010, 4.00pm Cairns Esplanade. Cairns Regional Council Mayor Val Schier presented the Northern Pride with a commemorative plaque.
2010 Jerseys
Special playing strips
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.
Trial Matches
Intrust Super Cup matches
Ladder
Finals Series
2010 Northern Pride players
North Queensland Cowboys who played for the Northern Pride in 2010
2010 Televised Games
In 2010 games were televised by ABC TV and shown live across Queensland through the ABC1 channel at 2.00pm (AEST) on Saturday afternoons. The commentary team was Gerry Collins, Warren Boland and David Wright. 1: Northern Pride lost 16–22 : Round 5, Saturday 10 April 2010 against Ipswich Jets from North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich 2: Northern Pride lost 14–26 : Round 10, Saturday 22 May 2010 against Norths Devils from Bishop Park, Nundah 3: Northern Pride won 54–6 : Round 22, Saturday 28 August 2010 against Burleigh Bears from Pizzey Park, Miami, Gold Coast 4: Northern Pride won 28–8 : Semi-Final, Sunday 12 September 2010 against Souths Logan Magpies from Davies Park, West End, Brisbane 5: Northern Pride won 30–20 : Grand Final, Sunday 19 September 2010 against Norths Devils from Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane