Northern Pride boss Eric Smith announces he will join the Redcliffe Dolphins
The much-loved head coach at Northern Pride has announced he will step down to join an NRL team at the end of this season.
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Northern Pride head coach Eric Smith has announced he will step down to join the Redcliffe Dolphins at the end of the season.
Smith shared the news with the playing group and staff at training on Wednesday night.
“It wasn’t (an easy decision) to be honest,” he said.
“I’ve really (enjoyed) my time here, I like what we’ve been able to build in a short space of time and I’d already been planning for next season to continue building that. I’ve got a great rapport for the players, Garreth and the staff here so it’s been a great season which isn’t over yet.”
Smith was approched last week by Dolphins assistant coach Kristian Woolf about the opportunity to take up a dual coaching role with the Dolphins NRL and Queensland Cup side.
He will become head coach of the Queensland Cup side, while working in conjunction with Woolf and the NRL team.
Smith will remain with the club until the end of the season with his focus remaining on finishing strong and building momentum into the 2024 finals campaign.
“My sole focus is purely on the rest of the season here,” Eric Smith said.
“I definitely haven’t got one foot out the door, that’s for sure. That’s why I wanted to get (the announcement) done, so it could be absorbed by players and staff this week, and then we move into Bears ready to take some momentum into next weekend.
“Hopefully the most enjoyable part is still to come.”
Pride will begin the recruitment process for a new head coach immediately, with the aim of making an appointment for the 2025 season in a timely manner.
After joining the Pride on a two-year contract in August 2023, Smith has been instrumental in leading the Pride to new heights in 2024.
Smith, who has previously worked with the Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm system, brought a wealth of experience to the club with more than 18 years of coaching at various levels — including Cairns A grade and Hostplus Cup with the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Brisbane Tigers.
Northern Pride CEO Garreth Smith commended Smith for his exceptional service, wishing Smith and his family all the best in their next chapter.
“The narrative for us is quite simple, we celebrate whenever (one of) our staff or players get an opportunity at the next level,” he said.
“That’s our job to make sure we’re promoting that. We’re really excited for Eric and really appreciative of the position he put us in as a club.”
Garreth Smith said their would be elements of Eric Smith’s strong football program this season that will be incorporated into the 2025 season.
“Certainly the standards, there’s no doubt about that,” Garreth Smith said.
“Our intent of getting Eric here was about making sure that we went from good to great, and now we need to maintain (the standards) and continue to move forward. The legacy Eric leaves here is that we now know what success looks like again.
Northern Pride will take on the Burleigh Bears in the final match of the home and away season, 3pm this Saturday at UAA Park, Gold Coast.
Originally published as Northern Pride boss Eric Smith announces he will join the Redcliffe Dolphins
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