PRIDE coach David Maiden has slammed as "disgraceful" his team's effort after its worst-ever Queensland Cup loss yesterday.
The Pride was thrashed 60-12 by Souths Logan at Davies Park in Brisbane yesterday, falling to its worst loss in three seasons in the competition.
Winless after three rounds, last year’s grand finalist has slumped to the bottom of the state league ladder with a woeful minus 60 points differential.
Despite an indifferent first half, the Pride was right in the game when trialing 16-6 at the break.
But a poor defensive attitude consigned it to a miserable second term as the Magpies ran rampant.
"We just didn’t show up," Maiden said.
"Defence is all about attitude and we didn’t show any in the second half.
"It was very disappointing."
While the match was billed as a physical challenge between two mighty packs, the Pride had little chance to show its wares, especially in the second half.
The Pride took an age to see the ball in the second term as it allowed wave after wave of Souths Logan attacks through its flimsy line, the Magpies scoring repeatedly and consigning the Pride to yet more defence.
Such was the home side’s dominance, the Pride only had seven sets with the ball in the second half.
"We didn’t earn the right to play football because we didn’t show up in defence," Maiden said.
The Pride’s trip south was thrown into turmoil before it even left Cairns when five-eighth Ryan Stig rolled his ankle at training on Friday night, forcing Clint Amos into the unfamiliar role.
And when Brett Anderson’s illness was diagnosed as chicken pox on Saturday morning, Taputoa Rea and Ben Spina were drafted into the side.
Maiden ended up using Rea, with Spina 18th man, and his decision was soon vindicated when Brenton Bowen was forced from the field midway through the first half with a lower back and side strain.
But Maiden refused to blame the reshuffle for the Pride’s woes.
"We had some late changes, yes, but that’s not why we didn’t go well," he said.
"The players who came in were more than capable of getting the job done."
While its first half was rusty – and Souths Logan raced to a halftime break thanks to an intercept try against the run of play – Maiden said the Pride was still in with a chance.
"It wasn’t the best football we’ve played in the first half but it was OK, we were still in the match," Maiden said. "We capitulated in the second half. It’s just not acceptable.
"We’ve all got to look at ourselves, me included."
While the result easily trumped the Pride’s previous worst results – 30-point losses to Tweed Heads in 2008 and Easts in round 14 last year – Maiden saw plenty of effort from some players.
Jaiman Lowe headed back into the game despite picking up a rib injury, while Mark Cantoni played 80 minutes and Ben Laity was tireless.
"Some guys definitely put themselves on the line," Maiden said.
