New Northern Pride head coach Jason Demetriou has started his preparations for the 2013 season. Demetriou has signed a two-year deal in a coup for the Cairns-based Intrust Super Cup club.

The 36-year-old, who was player-coach of UK Championship side Keighley Cougars this year, will get straight down to work at Barlow Park and said he was excited to finally land in far north Queensland.

PICTURED: Demetriou greeted at Cairns Airport earlier this week.

“It’s fantastic to be here at last,” he said. “After a long playing career in the Super League and a successful start to my coaching career, I see the Pride as a great opportunity to further my development as a rugby league coach at the elite level.

“I’m really looking forward to my time in Cairns and throughout the whole of this great footy region. I want to work everyone at the Pride to not only bring success for the team on the field, but also to further develop our great game throughout far north Queensland.

“I can’t wait to meet everyone to start preparing for the 2013 season, and getting ready for preseason training, which starts next month.”

Cheap, easy, and long lasting - check out The Newsport Classifieds

Demetriou, who captained English Super League side Wakefield Trinity Wildcats for five seasons from 2006-2010 and coached Keighley to a Championship 1 grand final win in his first season in charge in 2011, replaces outgoing Pride coach David Maiden at Barlow Park.

Pride Chief Executive Officer Chris Sheppard said it was a great day for the club to have someone of Demetriou’s calibre taking charge.

“I have no doubt that we’ve found the best. Jason has vast experience at the very highest level in the English game, and will bring so much to our great club.

“He has played in a Challenge Cup semi-final, been voted Man of Steel for his Club on numerous occasions, made the Super League Dream Team, and has delivered immediate success to Keighley during his coaching career to date.

“He has shown quite clearly during his time at Keighley that he can develop a team and deliver success. He is hugely knowledgeable about the game, extremely hard working, and we’re thrilled to have him with us for the forthcoming season.”