Club picks winning team Key directors stay on board after annual meeting

THERE’S little about running a rugby league club that compares to working in real estate but prominent Cairns broker Tony Williamson says he’s sold on helping the Northern Pride become the best Intrust Super Cup team in the competition once again.

Williamson was reappointed as the Pride’s chairman at the club’s annual general meeting this month and will serve in the role for another two years after initially joining the board in 2014.

Finance director Gail Andrejic and Cairns District Rugby League representative Colin Moore will remain in their roles, with the remaining four positions on the board not up for re-election.

Williamson said the challenges of working in sport had been an “eye-opening” experience.

“It’s a different sort of business model to what I’m used to,” Williamson said.

“But the Cairns market and public demands that you are successful, no matter what.

“We have stiff competition from the (Cairns) Taipans and Cairns FC all competing for the same sponsors. But there’s a strong winning culture at the club and we’re still the most successful team in the competition over the last 10 years.”

Having worked in real estate for more than 25 years, Williamson said it was still difficult to part ways with his best assets on the field.

But he added that the club had a proud history of developing NRL talent.

“We are 100 per cent a pathway club,” Williamson said.

“Some of our better players are being looked at by the Cowboys right now.

“If people like (current players) Jake Clifford and Todd Carney get picked up to play NRL today, then we know we’re doing our job.

“(Current Cowboys star) Coen Hess is a great example. Within 12 months of coming through the Pride he was playing State of Origin for Queensland.

“Most businesses you want to hang on to your best people.

“But when you let them go it means you open up new opportunities for other players from places like Thursday Island to do the same thing.”

“2014 is a great example. We won the premiership, then lost 13 players, the CEO and the coach.

“In some ways, we were a victim of our own success.”

After missing out on finals for the last three seasons, the Pride are considered premiership contenders once again.

“Under the leadership of (CEO) Greg Dowling and (head coach) Ty Williams, I believe we’re moving in the right direction,” Williamson said.