Partridge Returns to Redcliffe with Fresh Ambition

Will Partridge’s 2024 season ended in heartbreak at the hands of the Redcliffe Dolphins.

In 2025, he is chasing redemption. And he’s going to do it with the club that inflicted that pain upon him just six months ago.

Partridge has returned to Redcliffe – the club where he made his Queensland Cup debut in 2019 – alongside a strong contingent from up north as he seeks his first grand final berth.

The centre was part of last year’s minor premiership-winning outfit at the Northern Pride, but the Cairns-based club fell just short of the big dance after they were sunk by a Joshua James field goal in golden point of their preliminary final showdown against the Dolphins.

That heartache is not something Partridge has forgotten quickly.

But he holds no ill-feeling towards his new teammates, who are also hurting after falling short in last year’s grand final to the Norths Devils.

Instead, Partridge is determined to take the lessons of the past and turn them into something bigger and better in 2025.

“I’m super hungry to win a premiership,” Partridge said.

“It would be awesome to do it at Redcliffe where I started my semi-pro footy.

“I know all the boys are hungry too. We have a few Pride boys down here and Redcliffe are hungry from losing the grand final. It’s a hungry team.”

Joining Partridge at Dolphins HQ from the Pride is hooker Kyle Schneider, playmaker Dantoray Lui, prop Josh Allen, winger Nat McGavin and utility Harry Freebairn.

Pride coach Eric Smith has also taken over the reins at Redcliffe, bringing plenty of experience and knowledge to an already formidable squad.

The interest in Partridge from the Dolphins started to grow around last year’s finals series, before the 27-year-old was aware his coach was also heading to the Moreton Bay region.

The months since have been a blur for him, as he went from his preliminary final heartbreak to packing up his belongings for a return to the southeast corner.

“It just all happened pretty quick,” he said.

“I knew Redcliffe were interested late in the finals. My manager had told me but I was focused on finals and I was happy at Northern Pride. I just thought, ‘I’m going to play out these finals and look at that stuff later down the track.’

“I didn’t sign until pretty late in the end. I had some options to toss up and I needed to work out the best opportunity for myself moving forward.

“I thought being under the same roof as the NRL, that was a big drawcard.

“When I signed Redcliffe, it was maybe two or three weeks until I had to pack everything up in Cairns.

“It was a big decision because I just bought a place in Cairns and had only been there not quite a year. It was a very hectic period. But my footy career is only short and I just had to do what was best for my footy.”

The Norfolk Island product – who has nothing but gratitude and appreciation for his time with the Pride – last played for the Dolphins in 2021.

After coming through the club’s under 20s system, he made his Cup debut in 2019 and totalled six matches at that level in the red and white, with the 2020 season disrupted by COVID-19.

Now with 50 appearances in Cup under his belt, Partridge is keen to continue thriving at the club where it all began for him.

“They introduced me to semi-professional rugby league,” he said of Redcliffe.

“Coming from Norfolk Island, I moved over to play 20s and they developed me and showed a lot of belief in me through that and pushed me into BRL and Cup.

“I got my debut there under (former coach) Adam Mogg. They taught me a lot about rugby league. I got to win an under 20s comp there… It’s a pretty special club for myself.

“It’s all done a massive circle and worked out for me.”

There are a few familiar faces still around the grounds from when Partridge was last here, including Sheldon Pitama, Jarrett Boland, and the injured Trai Fuller.

He has settled in well across the pre-season, which included an NRL train and trial – an experience that Partridge is still pinching himself over.

“It was unreal,” he said.

“It’s one of the best experiences and a little bit of a dream come true for me getting to train fulltime with NRL boys, some who have played 150 games.

“All the coaches are unreal and I learned a lot of detail from them. Every now and then I’ll get to go up and do some training with them and that’s the opportunity I was looking for, being under the same roof.

“Coming back to Cup, there’s a lot of familiar faces, which is always good. Playing with some of these (Pride) boys last year when we were so successful and getting to do that again this year will help.

“All the (Redcliffe) boys have been very welcoming. It’s a real good culture and a good bunch of boys who want to put the hard work in.

“It’s been good coming back conditioned and ready to go. Now I can put my best foot forward for Redcliffe Cup.”

As well as the former Pride contingent, the Dolphins have also signed the likes of Sunshine Coast fullback Zac Miles, Souths Logan centre Ethan Quai-Ward and former NRL outside back Tom Opacic, who was part of Redcliffe’s last premiership side in 2018.

With a wealth of experience at the club, Partridge is confident in the team’s ability ahead of their season kick off on March 9 against the Devils at Bishop Park.

He believes he’s in the right place to go one step closer to his premiership dreams.

“With Eric at the reins and the squad we have, we are a good chance to have a big year,” he said.

“There’s a lot of knowledge and experience at every training session now. There’s no excuse. Definitely no excuse for us to not be performing.”