2008 was the first competitive season for the Cairns based CRGT Northern Pride Rugby League Football Club. They competed in the QRL state competition, which in 2008 was called the Wizard Queensland Cup. 11 Clubs played 20 matches (10 home and 10 away) over 26 weeks.
The Pride finished 3rd, just losing the Preliminary Final in golden point extra-time to the Souths Logan Magpies, who went on to win the 2008 Grand Final. Foundation coach was Andrew Dunemann, who had played for the Canberra Raiders, Leeds Rhinos, Halifax RLFC and South Sydney Rabbitohs, and had been Under-20s coach for the Canberra Raiders. Assistant coach was David Maiden. Foundation captain was Chris Sheppard, who had played for the North Queensland Cowboys and St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Coach: Andrew DunemannAssistant Coaches: David Maiden & Troy CummingsCaptain: Chris SheppardChief Executive: Denis KeeffeChairman: John O’BrienOperations Manager: Chris SheppardCommercial Manager: Brad TassellCompetition: Wizard Queensland CupFriday 26 September 2008, Pride Leagues Club, Irene Street, Mooroobool
Yalumba Wines Most Improved Player – Hezron MurghaEK Kitchens Best Back – Chey BirdSkytrans Airlines Best Forward – Mark CantoniCRGT Player of the Year – Chris SheppardJohn O’Brien Perpetual Club Person of the Year – Pride Manager, Rob WhiteThis was the first season for the Northern Pride, so all players were new signings.
Ryan Bartlett from QRL's North Queensland Young Guns Greg Byrnes from QRL's North Queensland Young Guns Brett Anderson from QRL's North Queensland Young Guns Warren Jensen from QRL's Wynnum Manly Seagulls Josh Vaughan from QRL's Tweed Heads Seagulls Joel Riethmuller from QRL's Ipswich Jets Gordon Rattler from QRL's Ipswich Jets Mark Cantoni from QRL's Brisbane Easts Ben Laity from QRL's Brisbane EastsHezron Murgha from CDRL's Yarrabah SeahawksNoel Underwood from CDRL's Yarrabah SeahawksFarran Willett from CDRL's Yarrabah SeahawksKahu Wehi from CDRL's Tully TigersRitchie Marsters from CDRL's Tully TigersJoshua Wehi from CDRL's Tully TigersAlex Starmer from CDRL's Ivanhoes KnightsDrew Campbell from CDRL's Ivanhoes KnightsJason Roos from CDRL's Mareeba GladiatorsChris Sheppard from CDRL's Mareeba GladiatorsAdam Mills from CDRL's Atherton RoostersStephen Sheppard from TDRL's Burdekin and CDRL's Mareeba GladiatorsChey Bird from TDRL's (Townsville) BrothersBen Kerr from CDRL's InnisfailEric Warria from Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Northern Territory teamSteve McLean from Canberra Raiders juniors.In Round xx the following player was signed to the Pride:
Quincy To’oto’o-ulugia from NRL's Cronulla Sharks Jersey FleggIn Round 10 the following players were signed to the Pride:
Chris Afamasaga from NRL's Gold Coast Titans . He walked out of the club after Round 18. Jamie Frizzo from NRL's North Queensland CowboysIn Round 12 the following players was signed to the Pride:
Rod Griffin from NRL's Wests Tigers and PNG KumulsIn Round 16 the following players was signed to the Pride:
Luke Harlen from NRL's Wests TigersAt the start of the season attempts were made to sign players from Papua New Guinea, but problems with visas prevented them playing for the Pride:
Michael Mark from PNG Kumuls Jessie Joe Parker from PNG KumulsTeam Launch - 14 December 2007Season Launch - 7 March 2008 at 11.00am, Stockland Cairns. (Originally scheduled as part of the Esplanade Lagoon's 5 year celebrations but moved to Stockland Cairns because of wet season flooding in Cairns.)Croco Dylus Village Camp, Daintree River - 19–20 January 20082008 CRGT Northern Pride jerseysIn 2008 games were televised by ABC TV and shown live across Queensland through the ABC1 channel at 2.00pm (AEST) on Saturday afternoons. The commentary team was Gerry Collins, Warren Boland and David Wright.
1: Northern Pride won 34-24: Round 5, Saturday 12 April 2008 against Souths Logan Magpies from Meakin Park, Logan2: Northern Pride lost 4-34: Round 8, Saturday 3 May 2008 against Tweed Heads Seagulls from Cudgen Park, Cudgen3: Northern Pride won 30-16: Round 11, Saturday 24 May 2008 against Ipswich Jets from Briggs Road Sporting Complex, Ipswich4: Northern Pride won 26-10: Round 17, Saturday 12 July 2008 against Easts Tigers from Langlands Park, Stones Corner, Brisbane5: Northern Pride won 34-16: Qualifying Final, Saturday 30 August 2008 against Ipswich Jets from Briggs Road Sporting Complex, Ipswich6: Northern Pride lost 12-16 : Preliminary Final, Saturday 6 September 2008 against Souths Logan Magpies from Langlands Park, Stones Corner, Brisbane 
