Lam arrived in Cairns in August 2007 while the Pride's bid to enter the QCup competition was being prepared, but was released a month later to take up a coaching position at the Sydney Roosters.
[4] He was replaced by Northern Pride's foundation coach, Andrew Dunemann, who had played five-eighth and hooker for the Gold Coast Seagulls, North Queensland Cowboys, South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canberra Raiders in the NRL, and the Halifax Blue Sox, Leeds Rhinos and Salford City Reds in the English Super League.
Maiden was a rugby league international who represented Scotland in the 2000 World Cup, was a foundation player for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL, and played lock and centre for Gateshead Thunder and Hull F.C.
The Chief Executive Officer and Commercial Manager visited Port Moresby to sign PNG players, but the Pride were unable to get work visas for the pair to enter Australia.
[11] Injuries dogged the team in the middle of the season, and Rugby League Week magazine predicted the newcomers would finish towards the bottom of the table.
Six weeks later, however, the project was put on hold as the Pride faced financial uncertainty after chairman O'Brien's Pacific Toyota dealership went into receivership with debts around $25 million.
Chris Sheppard (c) Brett Anderson Adam Mills Alex Starmer Ben Kerr Ben Laity Callan Myles Chey Bird Chris Afamasaga Drew Campbell Eric Warria Gordon Rattler Greg Byrnes Hezron Murgha Jamie Frizzo Jason Roos Joel Riethmuller Josh Vaughan Luke Harlen Luke Millwood Mark Cantoni Noel Underwood Quincy To'oto'o-ulugia Richie Marsters Rod Griffin Steve Sheppard Warren Jensen Farren Wilett Jordan Kane Joshua Wehi Kahu Wehi Ryan Bartlett Shaun Cribb Steve McLean Ben Vaeau* Jackson Nicolau* John Williams* Matthew Bartlett* Scott Bolton* Steve Southern* Ty Williams*
Allocated but did not play for the Pride in 2008: Aaron Payne Ashley Graham Carl Webb Jacob Lillyman Justin Smith Mark Henry Matt Bowen Ray Cashmere
At the start of the season attempts were made to sign players from the PNG rugby league, but problems with visas prevented them coming to Australia.