2015 was the eighth competitive season for the Cairns based Sea Swift Northern Pride Rugby League Football Club. They were one of 14 clubs that played in the twentieth season of Queensland's top rugby league competition, QRL's Intrust Super Cup, with each team playing 11 home games and 12 away games over 25 weeks between March and August.
The Pride appointed a new coach after Jason Demetriou moved to the Cowboys. Demetriou had signed a two-year extension with the Pride, making him one of the highest paid coaches in the Intrust Cup, but he decided to take the role in Townsville working with David Furner and John Cartwright as assistant coaches under Paul Green. Pride assistant coach Joe O'Callaghan was promoted to head coach.[2] O'Callaghan had been coach to numerous Academy sides, including the U-20s Central Comets (2007–2008), U-20s Tweed Heads Seagulls (2009), and U-20s Easts Tigers (2012), and had been the Pride's assistant coach for two seasons.[3]
Former Pride player Rod Jensen was appointed Chief Executive, replacing Brock Schaefer who left to take up a senior administrative role at NRL premiers South Sydney.[4] 'Rocket' Rod had previously played wing and centre for the Adelaide Rams, Canberra Raiders and North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Telstra Premiership, and for the Huddersfield Giants in the EnglishSuper League. He joined the Pride in their second season in 2009, and although he retired at the end of the year, he changed his mind and rejoined the club again halfway through the 2010 season, scoring a try in the 2010 Grand Final. Jensen played for the Pride for two more season, before moving to the CDRL Mareeba Gladiators.[5]
The club arranged some high-profile trial matches, beating newcomers Townsville Blackhawks, before travelling to Sydney to meet the 2014 NRL Telstra Premiers, South Sydney in the Return to Redfern annual match.[6] Although the Rabbitohs rested some of their star players, the Pride held them to a 20-all draw. The following week the Rabbitohs travelled to England for the World Club Challenge where they beat Super League premiers St Helens R.F.C. 39-0. The Pride returned home to play against QCup heavyweights PNG Hunters. This trail was arranged at the last minute and was something of a consolation for the Pride, who were not scheduled to play the Hunters at home this season. Last year's home game against the Hunters attracted a record crowd, earning the club around $50,000 in gate receipts and sponsorship.[7]
In the regular season the Pride got off to a poor start, losing the first four rounds. Round 1 was a grand final rematch against Easts Tigers, with the Tigers coming out victorious this time. Round 2 was cancelled due to Cyclone Nathan. Round 3 was against newcomers, the Blackhawks, who the Pride had beaten in a pre-season trial. The Blackhawks came to Cairns with three Cowboys players who had played for the Pride last year, and Dan Beasley, who had signed to play for the Pride, then reneged and showed up as the Blackhawks captain. The Blackhawks won 52-10, the Pride's biggest ever home loss and third biggest defeat of all time.
The Pride went on to win 14 games, climbing into the top eight by Round 9. They finished in sixth place, but were eliminated in the first week of the finals, losing 26–54 to the Ipswich Jets, who would go on to win the Grand Final against the new Townsville side.
Board of Directors: Tony Williamson (sponsorship), John Moore, Rob White (football), Stephen Tillett (community), Fred White (government), Anthony Mirotsos (legal), Gail Andrejic (finance).
2015 squad
The Pride used 32 players this season. Sixteen players from last year signed with the club again, and four of the Cowboys' allocation players from last season were assigned to the Pride again this year. Twelve new players made their debut this season; eleven were new signings (Bradley Stephen, Codey Kennedy, David Murphy, Dean Mcgilvray, Denzel King, Graham Clark, Keelan White, Luke George, Nathan Wales, Regan Verney and Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi), and one was a new Cowboys allocation player (Lachlan Coote*). Hezron Murgha signed to the Cowboys, but was allocated to the Pride and made 19 appearances in QCup this season.
Brett Anderson (co-captain) Jason Roos (co-captain) Alex Starmer Bradley Stephen Brent Oosen Codey Kennedy David Murphy Dean McGilvray Denzel King Graham Clark Jack Svendsen Jordan Biondi-Odo Justin Castellaro
Eddie Daniel
Jared Allen
Jared Verney
Menmuny Murgha
Maddie Oosen
Sam Pau
Travis Peeters
Broski Emery Hunia (Cairns Brothers)
Lachlan Parmenter (Cairns Brothers)
Peter Tognolini (Cairns Brothers)
Nathan Curcio (Atherton Roosters)
Jayden Gil
Joseph Forrester
Josh Mene
Jamie Kerwick
West Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: CDRL referee
Note: The West Barlow Park hit-out saw the Pride squad split into two teams. The match was adjudicated by a CDRL referee and was played over four-quarters. New coach Joe O'Callaghan got an idea of how his squad will handle the ISC Cup heat. Veteran prop Alex Starmer was given 60 minutes in a promising sign his recovery from last year's hamstring tear. Jared Verney (rolled ankle) and Graham Clark (knee) were the only players to suffer slight injuries. Jordan Biondi-Odo's excellent form makes for an interesting selection conundrum, with experienced five-eight Ben Jeffries suddenly facing a renewed push for the five-eighth role in Round 1. "This is Jordan's third preseason with us and he's been going very well", O'Callaghan said. "He knows there is a really good opportunity in the halves now with us not getting any Cowboys allocations for those positions.
Pre-season Trial 1 Saturday 7 February 2015 18:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Tries: Sam Pau 1 Ben Jeffries1 Keelan White 1 Denzel King 1 Menmuny Murgha 1 Dean McGilvray 1 Eddie Daniel 1 Goals: Jordan Biondi-Odo (5 from 6) 5 Ben Jeffries (0 from 1) 0
Note: The Pride took a youthful squad into the opening trial match. Ben Jeffries and Alex Starmer were given some match time early in the game, with forward Jack Svendsen and backline speed machine Linc Port also getting a chance to cement positions. Senior players were rested. The game was played in torrential rain which resulted in wet, muddy conditions. First-quarter: 10-6, Half-time: 14-10, Three quarter time: 20-10.
Goals: 1 Jordan Biondi-Odo (1 from 2) 1 Jared Verney (1 from 2)
Rabbitohs High Performance Centre (Redfern Oval, Redfern, Sydney, NSW) Attendance: c. 2000 Referee: Alan Shortall In Goal Ref: Rickey McFarlane Assistant Referee: Matt Noyen
Note: The Return to Redfern match is a celebration at the Rabbitohs traditional home ground. The 2015 Return to Redfern match was originally scheduled to be played against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, however due to the Rabbitohs qualifying for the World Club Challenge against Super League champions St. Helens, the Return to Redfern match for 2015 was played against the Pride and the match against the Bulldogs was postponed until 2016. Quarter time: 0-4, Half-time 4-8; Three quarter-time 8-14. Sin Bin: John Sutton (c).
Pre-season Trial 3 Saturday 21 February 2015 17:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Tries: 2 Akeripa Tia Kilifi 1 Yamba Bowie 1Gideon Gela-Mosby 1 Sam Smith Goals: 2 Cooper Bambling (2 from 3) 1Kyle Laybutt (1 from 2) Penalty Goal: 1 Cooper Bambling
Barlow Park (Severin Street, Parramatta Park, QLD) Referee: Tim Rutherford, David Penna. Touch judges: Evan Bayliss, Peter MacKinnon.
Unavailable: Justin Castellaro (ankle), Alex Starmer (hamstring), Graham Clark (rib).
North Queensland Cowboys U-20s: 1. Yamba Bowie, 2. Gideon Gela-Mosby, 3. Akeripa Tia Kilifi, 4. Conor Carey, 5. Scott Schulte, 6. Ty Carucci, 7. Cooper Bambling, 8. Viliame Kikau, 9. Brandon Smith, 10. Braden Uele, 11. Coen Hess, 12. Bill Cullen, 13. Kieran Quabba.
Interchange: 14. Cyrus Timo-Latu, 15. David Munro, 16. Andrew Niemoeller, 17. Jordan Kenworthy, 18. Ross Bella, 19. Kyle Laybutt, 20. Sam Smith, 21. Nick Brown, 22. Trey Kemp.
Note: Match was played as the curtain raiser to the NRL 'Cairns Key Real Estate Challenge' pre-season trial match between North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans. Half-time 12-24.
Inaugural 'Total Food Network Challenge'
Pre-season Trial 4 Friday 27 February 2015 19:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Note: This additional trial match was organised at the last minute after the trial match between the Ipswich Jets and PNG Hunters, scheduled to be played at Ipswich on Saturday 21 February 2015, was cancelled due to Cyclone Marcia. The game was the inaugural 'Total Food Network Challenge', sponsored by Total Food Network. Half-time 6-16.
Easts Tigers: 1. Cameron Munster*, 2. Donald Malone, 3. Shane Neumann, 4. Mahe Fonua*, 5. Richie Kennar, 6. Shaun Nona*, 7. Joel Romelo, 8. Matthew Zgrajewski, 9. Tommy Butterfield, 10. Christian Welch*, 11. Dane Hogan (c), 12. Jake Foster, 13. Troy Giess.
Interchange: 14. Liam McDonald, 15. Francis Tualau, 16. Foisa Peni, 17. Dean Britt*, 18. Liam Tyson.
* = Melbourne Storm allocation (5 players allocated for this match)
Coach: Craig Ingebrigtsen.
Note: This first round game was a 2014 Grand Final rematch. It was broadcast live on GEM with Matthew Thompson, Scott Sattler and Peter Psaltis as the commentary team. Sin bin: Joel Romelo (twice), Jack Svendsen. This was the Pride debut for Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi and Graham Clark (Pride Players 110 & 111) and North Queensland Cowboys allocation player Lachlan Coote* (Pride Player 109).
Note: This match was scheduled to be broadcast live on Channel 9, but because there was the possibility that the game would be moved from Cairns to either Innisfail or Tully, or postponed due to Cyclone Nathan, the match between Tweed Heads Seagulls and Norths Devils was shown instead. Dan Beasley had signed a contract to play for the Pride this season, but he reneged and decided to stay in Townsville and play for the Blackhawks. Several of the Blackhawks' Cowboy allocations, (Robert Lui, Ray Thompson and Ricky Thorby), had been Pride allocations last year and had played in the Grand Final. This was the Pride debut for Luke George and Nathan Wales (Pride Players 112 & 113).
* = Cowboys allocation (4 players allocated for this match)
Unavailable: Justin Castellaro (ankle), Alex Starmer (hamstring), Ben Jeffries (unavailable), Vaipuna Tia Kalifi (ankle), Javid Bowen* (named for the match but then selected to play for the Cowboys.
Pride Out: Javid Bowen (centre), Jordan Biondi-Odo (five-eighth)
Souths Logan Magpies: 1. Josh Damen, 20. Ramon Filipine, 3. Dallas Anderson, 4. Tim Brooks, 5. Matt Trnka, 6. Jack Joass, 7. Oliver Olds, 8. Sam Gardel, 9. Travis Waddell, 10. Andrew Edwards, 11. Scott Doyle, 12. Dan Tamou, 13. Joe Boyce.
Interchange: 14. Herschel Gideon, 15. Phil Dennis (c), 16. Graham Levu, 17. Aotealofa Tuimavave.
* = Brisbane Broncos allocation (? players allocated for this match)
Coach: Josh Hannay.
Note: Delayed telecast broadcast at 1.40 pm on Channel 9 with Matthew Thompson, Scott Sattler and Peter Psaltis as the commentary team. Half-time Pride 16-6 Magpies. After the match the Queensland Residents side was named which included Pride players Hezron Murgha*, Javid Bowen*, Ben Spina* and Patrick Kaufusi. This match was played as the curtain-raiser for the NRL Round 8 match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canberra Raiders, which the Raiders won 22-30.
Pride In: Bradley Stephen (wing), Luke George (centre), Alex Starmer (bench), Regan Verney (bench).
Changes: Linc Port (wing to fullback), Tom Hancock (bench to lock), Sheldon Powe-Hobbs (bench to front row).
Sunshine Coast Falcons: 1. Sam Young, 2. Callum Klein, 3. Hymel Hunt*, 4. Travis Robinson*, 5. Young Tonumaipea, 6. Billy Kitt, 7. Brett Doherty, 8. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs*, 9. Billy Brittain*, 10. Ryan Hansen, 11. Rueben Baillie, 12. Jake Samoa, 13. Johnny Vuetibau.
Interchange: 14. Jay William Lobwein, 15. James Ackerman, 16. Jon Platt, 17. Jordan Ryan, 18. Jye Ballinger.
* = Melbourne Storm allocation (4 players allocated for this match)
Coach: Glen Dreger.
Note: This match was due to be played on Saturday 14 April at 5.30 pm but was delayed due to Cyclone Nathan. This was the Pride debut for Bradley Stephen and Regan Verney (Pride Players 117 & 118).
* = Cowboys allocation (3 players allocated for this match)
Unavailable: Brett Anderson (hand), Codey Kennedy (hip flexor), Graham Clark (birth of first child), Bradley Stephen (passport issues), Hezron Murgha* (personal reasons), Ben Spina* (selected for the North Queensland Cowboys).
Pride Out: Bradley Stephen (wing), Graham Clark (second row).
Changes: Luke George (centre to wing), Sheldon Powe-Hobbs (front row to bench), Tom Hancock (lock to bench), David Murphy (bench to lock), Regan Verney (bench to second row)
PNG Hunters: 1. Stargroth Amean, 2. Bland Abavu, 3. Noel Zeming, 4. Thompson Teteh, 5. Adex Wera, 6. Israel Eliab (c), 7. Ase Boas, 8. Henry Noki, 9. Wartovo Puara, 10. Esau Siune, 11. Kato Ottio, 12. Brandy Peter, 13. Adam Korave.
Interchange: 14. Roger Laka, 15. Lawrence Tu'u, 16. Willie Minoga, 17. Timothy Lomai, 18. Atte Bina, 19. Edward Goma, 20. David Lapua.
Sea Swift Northern Pride: 1. Hezron Murgha* – FB2. Linc Port – WG3. Brett Anderson (co-captain) – CE4. Luke George – CE6. Ryan Ghietti – WG7. Sam Obst – FE8. Jack Svendsen – HB9. Jason Roos (co-captain) – PR10. David Murphy – HK11. Vaipuna Tia Kalifi – PR12. Graham Clark – SR13. Tom Hancock – SR14. Denzel King – LK
Pride In: Hezron Murgha (fullback), Brett Anderson (centre), Graham Clark (second row), Denzel King (lock), Bradley Stephen (bench).
Changes: Linc Port (fullback to wing), Luke George (wing to centre), Ryan Ghietti (five-eighth to wing), Sam Obst (halfback to five-eighth), Jack Svendsen (front row to halfback), Jason Roos (hooker to front row), Patrick Kaufusi (front row to bench), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (second row to front row), Regan Verney (second row to bench), David Murphy (lock to hooker), Tom Hancock (bench to second row).
Wynnum Manly Seagulls: 1. Daniel Ogden, 2. Peter Gubb, 3. Matthew Grieve, 4. Mitchell Buckett, 5. Greg Eden, 6. Patrick Templeman, 7. Matthew Seamark, 8. Ben Shea, 9. Alehana Mara, 10. Tim Natusch (c), 11. Aaron Rockley, 12. Brendon Gibb, 13. Mitchell Frei.
Interchange: 14. John Te Reo, 15. Jon Grieve, 16. Tanu Wulf, 17. Olsi Krasniqi.
* = Brisbane Broncos allocation (x players allocated for this match).
Coach: Jon Buchanan.
Note: This was the Pride debut for Denzel King (Pride Player 119).
Changes: Luke George (centre to wing), Ryan Ghietti (wing to five-eighth), Sam Obst (five-eighth to halfback), Jack Svendsen (halfback to front row), Jason Roos (front row to hooker), David Murphy (hooker to front row), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (front row to second row), Tom Hancock (second row to lock)
Changes: Luke George (wing to centre), Jason Roos (hooker to front row), Patrick Kaufusi (front row to hooker), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (second row to front row), Ben Spina* (lock to second row), Cameron King* (bench to lock)
Sunshine Coast Falcons: 1. Sam Wright, 2. Sam Young, 3. Rueben Baillie, 4. Travis Robinson, 5. Suliasi Vunivalu, 6. David Oakes, 7. Jake Turpin 8. James Ackerman, 9. Jay Lobwein, 10. Ryan Hansen, 11. Jye Ballinger, 12. Jake Samoa, 13. Tom Murphy (c).
Interchange: 14. Brett Doherty, 15. Johnny Vuetiba'u 16. Mboya Adams, 18. Sam Sotogi.
* = Melbourne Storm allocation (x players allocated for this match)
Pride In: Jack Svendsen (front row), Graham Clark (second row), Denzel King (bench).
Changes: Jason Roos (front row to hooker), Patrick Kaufusi (hooker to front row), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (front row to second row), Ben Spina* (second row to lock).
Changes: Linc Port (wing to fullback), Brett Anderson (centre to wing), Luke George (wing to centre), Ryan Ghietti (five-eighth to wing), Sam Obst (halfback to second row), Jack Svendsen (front row to bench), Jason Roos (hooker to five-eighth), Graham Clark (second row to hooker), Tom Hancock (bench to front row), Sheldon Powe-Hobbs (bench to halfback), David Murphy (bench to front row)
* = Cowboys allocation (3 players allocated for this match)
Unavailable: Ben Spina* (rib), Regan Verney (fractured eye socket), Sam Pau (broken leg), Vaipuna Tia Kalifi.
Pride Out: Keelan White (lock), Brent Oosen (bench), Semi Tadulala (bench).
Pride In: Hezron Murgha (fullback), Patrick Kaufusi (front row), Alex Starmer (bench).
Changes: Linc Port (fullback to wing), Brett Anderson (wing to centre), Luke George (centre to wing), Ryan Ghietti (wing to five-eighth), Jason Roos (five-eighth to hooker), Sheldon Powe-Hobbs (halfback to bench), David Murphy (front row to bench), Graham Clark (hooker to second row), Tom Hancock (front row to lock), Sam Obst (second row to halfback), Jack Svendsen (bench to front row).
Souths Logan Magpies: 1. Brandon Khuu, 2. Josh Damen, 3. Dallas Anderson, 4. Scott Doyle, 5. Tim Brooks, 6. Jack Joass, 7. Rhys Jacks, 8. Tikiko Noke, 9. Travis Waddell, 10. Andrew Edwards, 11. Joe Boyce, 12. Dan Tamou, 13. Phil Dennis (c).
Interchange: 14. Jack Anderson, 15. Ben Thorburn, 16. Sam Gardel, 17. Leon Panapa, 18. Ken Levu.
* = Brisbane Broncos allocation (? players allocated for this match).
* = Cowboys allocation (3 players allocated for this match).
Unavailable: Regan Verney (fractured eye socket), Sam Pau (broken leg), Cameron King* (knee operation), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (two match ban for reckless high tackle), Travis Peeters, Denzel King (jaw), Alex Starmer (shoulder).
Pride Out: Hezron Murgha (fullback), Justin Castellaro (centre), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (second row), Cameron King (bench).
Pride In: Semi Tadulala (centre), Luke George (wing), Keelan White (bench), Brent Oosen (bench).
Changes: Linc Port (wing to fullback), David Murphy (bench to second row).
Interchange: 15. Brent Oosen, 16. Sheldon Powe-Hobbs, 17. David Murphy, 19. Jordan Biondi-Odo.
* = Cowboys allocation (4 players allocated for this match).
Unavailable: Regan Verney (fractured eye socket), Sam Pau (broken leg), Cameron King* (knee operation), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (two match ban for reckless high tackle), Travis Peeters, Denzel King (jaw), Alex Starmer (shoulder).
Interchange: 14. Jordan Biondi-Odo, 15. Tom Hancock, 16. Sheldon Powe-Hobbs, 17. David Murphy.
* = Cowboys allocation (2 players allocated for this match).
Unavailable: Hezron Murgha* (one match ban for lifting tackle), Regan Verney (fractured eye socket), Sam Pau (broken leg), Cameron King* (knee operation), Travis Peeters, Denzel King (jaw), Alex Starmer (shoulder), Ben Spina* (named for the team and then selected to play for the North Queensland Cowboys.
Pride Out: Hezron Murgha (fullback), Ben Spina* (lock).
Pride In: Javid Bowen* (wing), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (second row).
Changes: Linc Port (wing to fullback), Tom Hancock (second row to bench), Brent Oosen (bench to lock).
Norths Devils: 1. Luke Pollock, 2. Michael Lucas, 3. Joel Bailey, 4. Ryan Millard, 5. Rogan Dean, 6. Dan Murphy, 7. Liam Tyson, 8. Matt Mizzi, 9. Byron Creighton, 10. Billy Solah, 11. Kristian Wanka, 12. Brett Greinke, (c) 13. Krys Freeman.
Pride In: Semi Tadulala (wing), Keelan White (bench).
Changes: Javid Bowen (wing to centre), Jason Roos (hooker to front row), Patrick Kaufusi (front row to hooker), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (second row to front row), Brent Oosen (lock to bench), Jordan Biondi-Odo (bench to lock), Tom Hancock (bench to second row)
CQ Capras: 1. Reece Baker, 2. Jake Ainsworth, 3. Dan Randall, 4. Sam Smith, 5. Tarrant Mariner, 6. Matt Minto, 7. Mark Johnstone, 8. Gerard Tema, 9. Ian Webster, 10. Gavin Hiscox, 11. Tyson White, 12. Rajan Opetaia-Halls, 13. Guy Williams (c).
Pride In: Hezron Murgha (wing), Justin Castellaro (centre), Jack Svendsen (front row), Ben Spina* (bench)
Changes: Javid Bowen (centre to wing), Jason Roos (front row to hooker), Patrick Kaufusi (hooker to front row), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (front row to second row), Tom Hancock (second row to lock), Jordan Biondi-Odo (lock to bench)
Ipswich Jets: 1. Carlin Anderson, 2. Marmin Barba, 3. Richard Pandia, 4. Nemani Valekapa, 5. Brendon McGrady, 6. Josh Cleeland, 7. Dane Phillips, 8. Josh Seage, 9. Matt Parcell, 10. Rod Griffin, 11. Fakahoko Teutau, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Keiron Lander (c).
Interchange: 15. Kurtis Lingwoodock, 16. Billy McConnachie, 17. Liam Capewell, 22. Sam Martin.
* = Brisbane Broncos allocation (x players allocated for this match)
Note: First Elimination Semi-final: 3rd place Ipswich Jets v 6th place Pride. This match was broadcast live on Channel 9 with Matthew Thompson, Scott Sattler and Peter Psaltis as the commentary team.