Sport
4 August, 2026
Pride’s narrow loss at Innisfail
PRIDE’S return to Innisfail for the country round was another reminder of why it’s important to take Hostplus Cup rugby league to regional communities.
While the result wasn’t what Pride were hoping for, going down 28-26 to the Souths Logan Magpies, it was described as a great afternoon of footy at Callendar Park.
The game itself had everything. Much like their 36-all draw with the Magpies earlier this season, it was another nail-biter that went right down to the final whistle. The boys crossed for six tries to Souths Logan’s five, but in the end, it came down to the smallest of margins.
Despite the disappointment of missing the two points, head coach Sam Williams (above) was pleased with many aspects of the performance.
“We scored six tries to five, completed at around 86% and defended with plenty of effort,” he said.
“There are a lot of positives in our game, but we’re having a few defensive lapses at crucial moments that are proving costly.
“On most days, a performance like that wins you the football game.”
He also acknowledged that goal kicking had been an area the team continued to work on during this week’s bye, with the extra time providing a valuable chance to rest, reset and fine-tune the little things before the run home.
“We’re certainly not far away, and there’s a lot of confidence within the group. We just need to find those little improvements that turn these close games into wins,” Mr Williams said.
“Away from the scoreboard, it was fantastic to spend the weekend in the Cassowary Coast and reconnect with our supporters in the region. A huge thank you to everyone who came along, as well as our local partners and the Innisfail community for making us feel so welcome.”
