OLD BOYS’ NEW VOICE
Northern Pride premiership winner appointed to the club’s board
THE Northern Pride helped Joel Riethmuller build a career in rugby league, one which took him to the NRL and the international stage for Italy.
Now, he’s planning to give back to the club which gave him that start.
Former premiershipwinning backrower Riethmuller has been appointed to the Northern Pride’s board, where he will serve as a representative of former players.
The appointment will allow for more involvement from players who led the Pride to on-field glory, with hopes it will soothe recent tensions between the parties.
Riethmuller was set to serve as Beau Berg’s assistant coach for the club’s Mal Meninga Cup side this year, though that ended early when the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus. While he has played rugby league at state, national and international levels, it will be the first time Riethmuller suits up in the boardroom.
“It’s good to be getting back involved,” Riethmuller said.
“You’re in and around it — people come up to you and they want to talk about the Pride and what’s going on at the club.
“The passion for the game can’t be understated. People can see that.”
He said his desire was to help the Pride stay strong into the future, so junior footballers in the Far North have access to a pathway which can take them to the NRL.
“This club gave me my career in footy so I know how important it is,” he said.
The Pride board is made up of eight directors, with five independents joined by a representative from the North Queensland Cowboys, one from Cairns District Rugby League, and one from Cairns District Junior Rugby League.
His appointment, which was accepted unanimously, comes amid a spat between a group of former players and the current leadership.
Former premiership winner Mark Cantoni, who spoke on behalf of a number of unhappy former players, called for a change to the club’s leadership team after chairman Tony Williamson publicly revisited the idea of changing the Pride’s name and brand.
Williamson, who has been on the board since 2014 and served as chairman since 2016, said the name change, which was first publicly floated and shot down in 2015, was not a foregone conclusion and just an idea the board “wanted to explore”.