Kenfrost Homes deal brightens Pride future

CHRISTMAS has come early for the Northern Pride with the announcement of a lucrative naming rights partnership with Kenfrost Homes.

The three-year deal means the team will be referred to as the Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride until the end of the 2022 season, but it is the injection of much-needed funds the club is celebrating most.

The substantial cash injection will provide the club with the financial backing it needs to become and remain a force in the Intrust Super Cup.

Not only does it help the side retain and sign high-quality footballers, it secures the future of the club.

“It’s great to have the financial stability provided by John (Richardson) and Kenfrost Homes,” Northern Pride CEO Mark Quinn said.

“It puts us in a different financial situation as far as the ability to retain players, and hopefully we can give something back to John as well.”

Pride coach Ty Williams said it was a move which puts the club in a good position, particularly with the launch of junior academy systems around the corner.

“Getting that support from them for the next few years puts us in good shape. The next few years we launch the academy side of things,” Williams said. “It really puts us back up there knowing the future of our club is in the right hands.”

Northern Pride have not had a naming rights sponsor since Sea Swift’s deal ended at the end of 2017.

The deal means Kenfrost Homes further strengthens its links with rugby league, after the company became the major sponsor of the NRL trial match at Barlow Park in February. North Queensland Cowboys’ trial game against the Broncos has been marketed as the Kenfrost Homes Challenge. Tickets are on sale.

The Pride have also partnered with a new jersey supplier in ISC, moving from Emu Sportswear, and will soon lock in the new kit design for 2020.

The team have another week of training before they break for Christmas.