NORTHERN PRIDE
Our Staff
Board
Garreth Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Garreth leads the Northern Pride’s strategic direction and oversees the club’s operational, commercial, and community functions, with a strong focus on leadership and long-term sustainability.
Kim McPhe-Smith
Chair of the Board
Garreth leads the Northern Pride’s strategic direction and oversees the club’s operational, commercial, and community functions, with a strong focus on leadership and long-term sustainability.
Joel Riethmuller
Kym McPhe-Smith
Leon Yeatman
Leon brings strong governance experience, deep community knowledge, and a lifelong commitment to Indigenous and remote player pathways. A proud Yarrabah local and former representative player, he contributes valuable cultural insight, integrity, and over 35 years of rugby league experience to the Northern Pride.
Stephen Devenish
Stephen brings more than 30 years of legal experience and governance insight to the Northern Pride Board.
A long-serving supporter of rugby league in FNQ, he is committed to strong community engagement, excellence on the field, and the unsung heroes who make the club’s success possible.
Mark Whitnall
Mark joined the Northern Pride Board in 2019 as an independent director, driven by a desire to give back to the game that shaped opportunities for his family.
He is committed to strengthening rugby league pathways across Far North Queensland and supporting the club’s exciting growth, including its entry into the 2025 Women’s BMD Premiership and its enhanced affiliation with the North Queensland Cowboys.
Nick Kenny
HPC Coaching Staff
SAM WILLIAMS
HEAD COACH
Sam brings extensive NRL experience and strong leadership to the Northern Pride as Head Coach for the 2026 season. A former Canberra Raiders halfback with more than 100 first-grade games, he is highly regarded for his game management, professionalism, and ability to develop young talent within high-performance environments.
CAMERON MILLER
ASSISTANT COACH
IAN BLAKE
HEAD OF PERFORMANCE
Ian brings nine years of professional high-performance experience from rugby union and joins the Northern Pride as Head of Performance after relocating from New Zealand. Passionate about returning to rugby league, he is committed to driving player development and building a strong, disciplined, and connected performance environment for the club.
BMD Coaching Staff
COLIN WILKE
HEAD COACH + ELITE PATHWAYS & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
ASSISTANT COACH
JOSHUA PIN
HEAD OF PERFORMANCE
OperationAL Staff
RAINE PORTER
COMMERCIAL MANAGER
Raine leads the Northern Pride’s commercial, partnerships, and community engagement portfolio, driving growth through strong relationships and meaningful local impact. With a passion for connecting people and creating value for the region, she plays a key role in strengthening the club’s footprint across Far North Queensland.
TANYA TULLY
FOOTBALL OPERATIONS MANAGER
Jackson Nicolau
WELL-BEING & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS MANAGER
An inaugural Northern Pride player, Jackson now leads the club’s wellbeing and community programs. Born and raised in Innisfail, he brings a deep understanding of the region and is committed to supporting players’ mental health, personal growth, and cultural wellbeing across Far North Queensland.
VANESSA HARPER
ADMIN & EVENTS MANAGER
Vanessa is in her second season with the Northern Pride and plays a key role across operations, events, memberships, merchandise, and volunteer coordination. Known for her energy, organisation, and genuine passion for people, she helps create a professional, welcoming, and community-focused experience for everyone connected to the club.
ANNIE FISHBURN
ACCOUNTS MANAGER
Annie has been with the Northern Pride for four years as Accounts Manager and is a long-time supporter of the club. Highly organised and deeply passionate about the Pride’s success, she plays a key role behind the scenes and continues to contribute across multiple areas, including game day volunteering.
