2020 Northern Pride RLFC season

2020 was the thirteenth competitive season for the Cairns based Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride Rugby League Football Club. They were one of 14 clubs that competed in the twenty-fifth season of Queensland's top rugby league competition, QRL's Hostplus Cup. The Northern Pride were due to play 12 home games and 11 away games over 23 rounds between March and August, but the season was cancelled after Round One due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the season was cancelled, the Pride played three pre-season trials, two of which attracted large crowds - the trial against the Blackhawks was a curtain-raiser to the NRL Cowboys v Broncos pre-season trial, and the Pride's trial against the Hunters attracted a large ex-pat following.

Coach Ty Williams named a new six-man 'leadership group' composed of Javid Bowen, Rod Griffin, Matolu Laumea, Patrick Gallen, Tom McGrath, and new recruit Josh Stuckey. From this group Williams chose Javid Bowen as captain, and Rod Griffin as vice-captain.

A new three-year naming rights sponsor, Kenfrost Homes was announced in December 2019. The Pride had been without a major sponsor since the Sea Swift sponsorship ended in 2017. The Pride are one of five QCup sides that do not have the financial backing of a major leagues club.

Before Round One, the QRL adopted the NRL's COVID-19 guidelines, which included a 'no fans' policy, meaning the games would be played before empty grandstands.

On 17 March, two days after the completion of Round One, QRL announced the competition would be suspended for ten weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hoped QCup would resume with Round 12 in June, but the rapidly deteriorating situation with the pandemic meant on 26 March the Queensland Government announced Stage 1 Restrictions on movements across the Queensland border, which would affect NSW club Tweed Heads Seagulls, PNG club SP Hunters, and the feeder arrangements that Easts Tigers and SC Falcons had with the Melbourne Storm and the Ipswich Jets had with Newcastle Knights. Consequently, the next day QRL cancelled the competition for the 2020 season. QRL managing director Robert Moore stated, "by making this announcement now, it provides our clubs with the opportunity to re-set and turn their attention towards the 2021 season". The Pride reduced to a staff of three, with the CEO, Coach and Commercial Manager Alannah Giuffrida retained on reduced wages. Many of the Pride's New Zealand players returned home before the NZ border closed.

In the absence of football, the Cairns Post ran a series ranking the top fifty Northern Pride players from the last 12 seasons.

As the year progressed, there was talk of staging some games, with the Pride, Blackhawks, Cutters and CQ Capras playing a Northern Championship, but travel costs were prohibitive and the idea was abandoned.

In August the 'Kenfrost Homes Lightning Challenge' was held between two CDRL clubs (Brothers Cairns and Tully Tigers), and two teams from the Pride. The Pride combined their ISC side with their HDC U-20s side to make the 'Pride Giants' and 'Pride Reef Kings'. Games were played in Cairns and Tully over six rounds. Pride coach Ty Williams took a back seat, leaving the coaching to Bevan Walker, Pride's ISC assistant coach, and Dave Scott, Pride's HDC U-20 coach. Controversially, two of Brothers Cairns games were abandoned when match officials were abused. The 'Pride Reef Kings' were undefeated and won the competition.

At the end of the season, Northern Pride football operations manager Chey Bird resigned. CEO Tony Williamson also resigned.

2020 Season – Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride

 * Competition: Intrust Super Cup
 * Sponsor: Kenfrost Homes.
 * Jersey supplier: ISC.

Coaches/Trainers

 * Coach: Ty Williams.
 * Assistant coach: Sam Obst.
 * Assistant coach: Bevan Walker.
 * Hastings Deering Colts U-20 coach: Dave Scott.
 * Mal Meninga Cup U-18 coach: Bobby Berg.
 * Strength and Conditioning Coach: Scott Callaghan.

Captain

 * Captain: Javid Bowen.
 * Vice-captain: Rod Griffin.

Managers

 * Football operations manager: Chey Bird.
 * Commercial manager: Alannah Giuffrida.
 * Chief executive: Mark Quinn.
 * Chairman: Tony Williamson.
 * Board Members: Peter Parr (replaced by Micheal Luck), Stephen Devenish, Gail Andrejic, Stephen Tillett, Colin Moore, Ian Lydiard, Terry Medhurst.

2020 squad
The Pride used 17 players in the one match they played this season. Eight of these players played for the Pride last season, and two of the Cowboys' allocation players had already played for the club. Seven players made their debut this season; four were new signings (Bernard Lewis, Chris Ostwald, Josh Stuckey and Nick Lui-Toso), and three were new Cowboys allocation players (Ben Condon*, Connelly Lemuelu* and Wiremu Greig*). Former Cowboys allocation players Gideon Gela-Mosby and Javid Bowen signed to the Pride for this season.

Javid Bowen (c)

Rod Griffin (vc) 🇵🇬

Bernard Lewis 🇵🇬

Brad Lupi

Cephas Chinfat

Chris Ostwald

Gideon Gela-Mosby

Jack Campagnolo 🇮🇹

Joe Eichner 🇺🇸

Josh Stuckey

Nick Lui-Toso

Patrick Gallen

Rod Griffin

Matt Egan

Denzel King

Evan Child

Ewan Moore

Mat Laumea

Matthew Musumeci

Pio Seci 🇫🇯

Quinlyn Cannon

Shawn Bowen

Steven Tatipata

Taulata Fakalelu

Terrence Casey-Douglas

Tom McGrath

Beau Berg

Curtly Hope-Hodgetts

Gabriel Bon

Heilum Luki

Jacob McCarthy

Mark Rosendale

Matthew Gibuma

Stanley Anau

Ben Condon* (NYC Development)

Connelly Lemuelu*

Jake Clifford*

Peter Hola*

Wiremu Greig* (NYC Development)

Trial Match only:

Ben Hampton*

Allocated but did not play for the Pride in 2020:

Coen Hess

Gavin Cooper

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Jordan McLean

Reece Robson

2020 season launch

 * Pre-Season Training: 4 November 2019, West Barlow Park.
 * Pre-Season Boot Camp: Daradgee Environmental Education Centre, Innisfail, 17–19 January 2020.
 * Professional Development Weekend with NRL coach Anthony Griffin: Daradgee Environmental Education Centre, Innisfail, 8–9 February 2020.
 * Season launch: 9 February 2020, Mount Sheridan Plaza, Mount Sheridan.
 * Season launch: 7 March 2020, The Pier Bar, Cairns $30.

2020 player records

 * Most Points: Jake Clifford* (6).
 * Most Tries: Jake Clifford* (1), Connelly Lemuelu* (1).

Cairns Post Top 50 Pride players (2008-2020)
In the absence of football during the pandemic, Rowan Sparkes, sports writer at the Cairns Post published an article ranking the top fifty Northern Pride players from the last 12 seasons.
 * 1. Chris Sheppard,, foundation captain, 60 games (2008-2010), Operations Manager (2008-2010), Chief Executive Officer (2011-2013).
 * 2. Jason Roos,, 164 games (2008-2015), co-captain (2014).
 * 3. Chey Bird,, 96 games (2008-2012), most points in a season (216 points 2011), most points scored (574 points - 23 tries, 226 goals, 2008-2012).
 * 4. Brett Anderson,, 125+ games (2008, 2010-2015, 2018).
 * 5. Ben Spina,, 140+ games (2010-2017).
 * 6. Joel Riethmuller,, (2008-2014, 2017).
 * 7. Sam Obst,, 74 games (2013-2015).
 * 8. Ben Laity,, 117 games (2008-2013).
 * 9. Ty Williams,, (2008-2015), captain (2011-2013), coach (2017-2023).
 * 10. Hezron Murgha, (, threequarters), (2008-2014).
 * 11. Ryan Ghietti, (, bench utility), 169 games (2011-2018), captain (2016-2018).
 * 12. Alex Starmer, (front rower), 120 games (2008-2015), Members’ Player of the Year in 2012.
 * 13. Shaun Nona,.
 * 14. Mark Cantoni, 69 games (2008-2011), Best Forward 2008.
 * 15. Ethan Lowe, (2012-2018), Rookie of the Year 2012, Best Forward 2013.
 * 16. Javid Bowen, (2014-2020)
 * 17. Davin Crampton,, (2011-2014),
 * 18. Tom Hancock, 108 games (2014-2018), Most Improved Player 2015, Best Forward 2016, Player of the Year 2019, Players’ Player 2019, Members Player of the Year 2019, and Best Forward 2019.
 * 19. Linc Port,, 47 games (2014-2016).
 * 20. Kyle Feldt, (2013-2014).
 * 21. Blake Leary, (2011-2014).
 * 22. Luke Harlen, (2008-2009, 2011-20012), Best Forward, 2011.
 * 23. Rod Jensen, 69 games (2009-2012), Chief Executive officer (2015-2016).
 * 24. David Murphy, (2015-2016, 2018-2019), Player of the Year 2015.
 * 25. Noel Underwood, 77 games (2008-2013)
 * 26. Will Bugden, 55 games (2017-2019), Player's Player 2018, Member's Player of the Year 2018.
 * 27. Jake Clifford,, (2018-2020).
 * 28. Rod Griffin, (2008-2010, 2019-2020).
 * 29. Darryn Schonig, (2016-2019).
 * 30. Khan Ahwang,
 * 31. Connor Jones,
 * 32. Jack Svendsen,
 * 33. Tyrone McCarthy,
 * 34. Nick Slyney,
 * 35. Graham Clark,
 * 36. Ryan Stig,
 * 37. Ricky Thorby,
 * 38. Tom Humble,
 * 39. Semi Tadulala,
 * 40. Sheldon Powe-Hobbs,
 * 41. Justin Castellaro,
 * 42. Greg Byrnes,
 * 43. Michael Bani,
 * 44. Clint Amos,
 * 45. Vaipuna Tia Kilifi,
 * 46. Jackson Nicolau,
 * 47. Mark Dalle Cort,
 * 48. Jamie Frizzo,
 * 49. Luke George,
 * 50. Josh Vaughan,