Queensland Women's Rugby League Archives - OurFootyTeam

QRL Grand Finals Weekend Wrap Junior Statewide Competitions

qrlmedia — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 05:08:48 +0000

QRL Grand Finals Weekend Wrap Junior Statewide Competitions

Grand Final weekend delivered on the excitement as teams across the Harvey Norman u19, Cyril Connell Cup and Harvey Norman u17 competitions each showcased their best abilities.

Harvey Norman u19 – Grand Final

Brisbane Tigers 30 def Western Clydesdales 6 at Totally Workwear Stadium.

The Tigers ignited the match with an early try from Sienna Ibrahim, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

2025 Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons – FOOTY FEST Kingaroy – Sat 26 April

Their relentless assault continued as Fleur Ginn and Lishainah Ulugia added to the score, showcasing an unstoppable offensive rhythm.

Despite the Clydesdales’ efforts, which included a retaliation try from Mia Byrnes, the Tigers’ defence held firm.

Kameryn Bray contributed with her own try, while Ulugia’s successful conversions cemented their lead. With each play, it became evident that the Tigers were in complete control.

As the final whistle blew, the Tigers celebrated their confident 30-6 victory, triumphantly marking their place as champions.

The electrifying atmosphere in Totally Workwear Stadium reflected the sheer dominance the Brisbane Tigers displayed, earning them a memorable grand final win.

Cyril Connell Cup – Grand Final

Burleigh Bears 18 def Mackay Cutters 12 at Totally Workwear Stadium

In arguably the best match of the day, the Burleigh Bears triumphed over an admirable Mackay Cutters outfit, to secure the 2025 Cyril Connell Cup.

Running out as favourites, it appeared as if the Bears had one hand on the trophy already after the first 11 minutes, with Captain Tupou Francis and five-eighth Cornelius Kelsall both crossing the try line early.

But a late first half try from Cutters’ lock Eli Woodson would see the underdogs entering the shed with the match on a knifes edge.

The second half opened in a similar fashion to the first, with Tupou Francis scoring his second for the day and the Bears again dominating possession and field position.

Relentless meterage from Tyrell Schwenke, Kingston Seve and Flynn Laffranchi prevented the Cutters from ever mounting any pressure defensively.

A deft boot of Bears halfback Harvey Smith meant that the Cutters’ outside backs were kept busy trying to get out of their own end.

A miraculous late try from Norman Campbell saw the Cutters down a mere 6 points with two minutes to go

But ultimately it was too little too late for the men from Mackay, as a dropped bell after the final siren secured the premiership for the Burleigh Bears, with Tupou Francis taking home the player of the match honours.

Harvey Norman u17 – Grand Final

Brisbane Tigers 32 def Sunshine Coast Falcons 04 at Totally Workwear Stadium.

It was one way traffic in the first of the Statewide Competition Grand Finals, as the Brisbane Tigers outclassed a valiant Sunshine Coast Falcons squad.

It was Ebony Tziros who opened the scoring, being the beneficiary of a brilliant draw and pass play from back rower Leilani Taofinuu.

A late first half try would see the Falcons entering the sheds with a glimmer of hope.

n immediate reply from Ebony Tziros would see the centre secure her second try of the day, as well as knocking in the final nail in the coffin for the girls from the Sunshine Coast.

Hooker Enah Desic was marshalling her troops around the field with composure far beyond her years, as her stout defence and game recognition earnt her player of the match honours.

The scoreline does not truly represent the balance of the game, as possession and field position was somewhat even on the day, but the superior final execution of the Brisbane Tigers allowed them to rack up many more tries on the day.

Mal Meninga Cup – Round 9

Mackay Cutters 24 def Western Clydesdales 16 at Toowoomba Sports Ground.

It was a hard-fought battle, with Jack Thorburn and Toby Woodall shining for the Cutters, both crossing the line for tries that fuelled their team’s momentum.

Lachlan Lyons showed resilience for the Clydesdales with a strong effort, but they couldn’t quite keep pace with the Cutters’ dynamic attack.

Redcliffe Dolphins 46 def Townsville Blackhawks 16 at Jack Manski Oval.

The Dolphins put on a dominant display, with Elijah McKay leading the charge with two spectacular tries.

Townsville fought valiantly with Kyle Bader and Karlos Iraia scoring, but it was clear the Dolphins were in a league of their own on this day.

Tweed Seagulls 52 def Sunshine Coast Falcons 10 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

The Seagulls took flight in this match proving why they belong on top, with Sam Stephenson netting three tries and Zane Harrison showcasing his kicking skills with six conversions.

Ellyjah Birve managed a try and a goal for the Falcons, but it was a challenging day as the Seagulls proved to be unstoppable.

Burleigh Bears 62 def CQ Capras 0 at Rugby Park.

The Bears put on an absolute clinic, with Bailey Trew, Saxon Innes and Antonio Verhoeven among the multiple try-scorers.

Marley McLaren’s boot contributed greatly, landing nine goals.

CQ Capras struggled to find their footing and ended the match without any points, a tough day for them against such an aggressive opponent.

Souths Logan Magpies 32 def Brisbane Tigers 10 at Totally Workwear Stadium.

The Magpies soared high with standout performances from Jayden Solien and Siosaia Poese, both contributing multiple tries to secure victory.

Brisbane’s Motootua Kia scored with grit, but the Magpies’ team synergy proved too strong and consistent throughout the match.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls 30 def Northern Pride 22 at Barlow Park.

In a thrilling back-and-forth encounter, Matthew Schultz paved the way for the Seagulls with a crucial try.

The Pride fought hard with Maddox Goodwin leading their charge, but Wynnum Manly held on for a well-deserved win, showcasing their determination and teamwork.

Norths Devils 28 def Ipswich Jets 22 at North Ipswich Reserve.

This match delivered intense excitement, with Duquan Talaepa’s electrifying runs giving the Devils an edge.

The Jets, led by Eli Ortiz, kept the pressure on but fell just short as Norths sealed their victory with solid execution in the closing minutes.

The back-and-forth scoring kept fans on the edge of their seats right until the end!

Cutters win inaugural Women’s U 19 grand final

qrlmedia — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:17:08 +0000

Cutters win inaugural Women’s U 19 grand final

Author : Jorja Brinums QRL content producer

Cutters win inaugural Women’s U 19 grand final

Resilient Cutters take out inaugural Harvey Norman Under 19 grand final

A gutsy, brave Mackay Cutters side have taken out the inaugural Harvey Norman Under 19 grand final 18-16 over Brisbane Tigers.

The game at Totally Workwear Stadium was entertaining, tough and a true arm wrestle; down two players through injury for the final 17 minutes of the game, the Cutters held on to their lead despite the best efforts from the Tigers.

There was a lengthy delay in play – more than 45 minutes – after Cutters No.13 Leila Murphy injured her ankle around the 42-minute mark; once the ambulance took her away – to an applauding crowd – it was game on between the two sides.

The crowd was going wild as they battled for the win.

Cutters assistant coach Jamaiah Hutchison said he was simply pumped following the epic clash and was so proud of the resilience and effort put in.

“It was a bit nerve-wracking towards the end but very exciting for the girls,” Hutchison said.
Match: Tigers v Cutters

Grand Final – Saturday 13th April

Tigers 16 – 18 Cutters

Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane

“With a really big stoppage it’s kind of hard to keep everyone on track for how long the girls were out for.

We just took a step back and tried to realise what we had to do as our job, get back into our warm-up and try and execute what we’ve been doing really well for that whole game.

“The Tigers started strong… they’ve got a big pack and we thought they were going to really use it quite well so we made a couple of changes to try and suit the physicality.

They obviously had the home crowd advantage… we could barely hear ourselves talk over the crowd so we expected they were going to come out guns blazing.

“We had a few tries saved on the line. The girls put themselves in a position for match-winning moments in the game, so they did that really well and showed a lot of resilience.”

Cutters halfback and captain Mersades Lawson and centre Jennifer Kimber both scored doubles in the game as they kept the edge over the Tigers to claim the 18-16 win.

And it was hooker Paityne Johns who claimed player of the match honours.

Paityne Johns. Photo: Vanessa Hafner/QRL

Hutchison said Cutters head coach Matt Sanders, absent for personal reasons, would be so proud of his side.

“Matt will be over the moon… he called me about 30 times through the game, as he should, but he’ll be over the moon,” Hutchison said.

“I already know exactly how he would’ve reacted too… he would’ve jumped up from his chair and started cheering and I’m sure there would’ve been someone telling him to calm down.

“Very happy for Matt.

He deserves this more than anyone, in his role for the last three of four years, and he has earned it.”

Grand final spotlight: Mackay Cutters hooker Paityne Johns

Related Harvey Norman Under 19

Grand final spotlight: Mackay Cutters hooker Paityne Johns

Hutchison said winning this first Harvey Norman Under 19 grand final – making history – was “massive for the club”.

“It shows just how good our football is up north,” Hutchison said.

“The girls worked so hard for it… they put the work and effort in there and got the result.”

Queensland Under 19 staff confirmed

qrlmedia — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 03:01:29 +0000

Queensland Under 19 staff confirmed

Author : Michael Hillier QRL Media

Queensland Under 19 staff confirmed

Queensland Rugby League is pleased to confirm a list of high-calibre coaches and support team members who will guide state under 19 teams during the representative season.

In an action-packed 2022 calendar, Queensland will go head to head with New South Wales in under 19 men’s and women’s matches, while two teams will represent Queensland at the Women’s National Championships.

The men’s match will be played in Brisbane in July, and will see the state’s most promising young talent come together under the eye of Kurt Richards.

Richards has a long and proven record of success with Queensland under age teams and performance programs, and is well known for his work in NRL club systems as a skills coach and mentor for players transitioning into the top grade.

Richards will be assisted by Brad Davis, a former premiership-winning Cup captain and Gold Coast Titans player, and ex-Queensland and Australian representative Brent Tate (main image with Queensland Under 20 side in 2019).

With COVID-19 restrictions causing the cancellation of last year’s game, the 2022 match will carry extra significance for both states.

There will also be plenty of feeling in the under 19 women’s match, after NSW scored a tight win over the junior Maroons on the Sunshine Coast last year.

Ben Jeffries, an elite pathways coach in North Queensland, will have the responsibility of preparing the under 19 Queensland women’s team with support from Deanna Turner and Meg Ward.

Both Turner and Ward have represented their state and country, while Jeffries has big game experience as well after working as an assistant coach with the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons last year.

A key component of the female pathway in 2022 will be the Under 19 National Women’s National Championships, where Maia Tua-Davidson and Gavin Lloyd will be in charge of the two Queensland teams.

Queensland will look to replicate the success of 2021, when the Sapphires and Rubys played off in an all Queensland final.

Queensland Under 19 coaching appointments 2022

Queensland representative teams

Under 19 Men

Head coach: Kurt Richards
Assistant coach: Brad Davis
Assistant coach / Mentor: Brent Tate
Physiotherapist: Ben Heidenreich
Strength & conditioner: Alex Corvo
Sports trainer: Geoff Eggert
Manager: Richard Duff

Under 19 Women

Head coach: Ben Jeffries
Manager: Tammy Quirke
Assistant coach: Deanna Turner
Assistant coach: Meg Ward
Physiotherapist: Bushra Mir
Strength & conditioner: Tandia Wood
Sports trainer: Liam Bartlett
Analyst: Teale Pyne
Wellbeing: Carmen Taplin

Under 19 Women’s National Championships

Queensland Rubys
Head coach: Maia Tua-Davidson
Assistant coach: Paul Brown
Assistant coach: Marco Peters
Physiotherapist: Taylor Crossley
Sports trainer: Barry Kelly
Strength & conditioner: Kiel Harper
Team manager: Thea White
Wellbeing support: Carmen Taplin

Queensland Sapphires

Head coach: Gavin Lloyd
Assistant coach: Chelsea Baker
Assistant coach: Paul Nieuwenhuyzen
Physiotherapist: Bushra Mir
Sports trainer: Dane McQueen
Strength & conditioner: Georgia Brown
Manager: Thea White
Wellbeing: Carmen Taplin

Gold Coast boom Girls’ numbers grow

qrlmedia — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 12:02:35 +0000

Gold Coast boom Girls’ numbers grow as Karina Brown Challenge comes to town

Author : Rikki-Lee Arnold QRL Community content producer

Gold Coast boom: Girls’ numbers grow as Karina Brown Challenge comes to town

A new girls competition on the Gold Coast has seen a boom in female participation rates, with the under 12s registrations already up by 41 per cent from last year.

A first for the QRL South East region, the Karina Brown Challenge.

Named after the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons star winger – is a trial, female-only under 12s competition on the Gold Coast.

Twelve clubs have already been approved to take part in the competition and with registrations open until March 25, there is still plenty of opportunity for growth.

The under 12 female participation rates on the Gold Coast have risen 41.43 per cent above last year’s numbers.

And under 12 female participation is up by 29.96 per cent across all of southeast Queensland, while overall southeast female registrations are up by 17.99 per cent.

With the continuing success around the female game.

Ipswich is looking to do a similar competition towards the end of the season and SEQ board member Catherine Beaumont said these trials would hopefully become permanent.

Gold Coast female participation rates are booming.

“With the under 12s, it’s about creating a pathway,” Beaumont said.

“In the past under 12s has been the last age where some girls could play after playing mixed for so many years.

“Now they know they don’t have to stop playing the sport they enjoy. This trial has all been very positive so far

It’s being grasped in a good way and good light.

“It will increase the number of young girls being involved in and playing league.

“With this, they can stay on the field and be at the centre of it, not just be the sideline support.”

Karina Brown has played an integral part in developing women’s rugby league on the Gold Coast, including founding the Burleigh Bears women’s team.

Despite the boom in numbers and the positive reaction to the upcoming Karina Brown Challenge.

Beaumont said registrations were still open and they wanted to encourage as many girls as possible to sign up.

Not just on the Gold Coast, but across the southeast.

Beaumont – who takes the lead on female participation.

Said the proposal for the competition first came to the southeast board around September last year and it was not just a matter of giving the opportunities to girls, but showing others what they could have.

“What we want to see is that every person enjoys the time that they’re there,” Beaumont said.

“We want them to look forward to coming back and to then encourage their friends to come watch. This might encourage their friends to sign on for 2023 and beyond.

“What we hope is that we can go from under 12s on the Gold Coast to under 14s and under 16s teams. Eventually, it won’t be every second club with a team, but every single club.

“Yes, We want people to know that a girl can go to these clubs and be taught the correct way to tackle.

To catch the ball, throw the ball, and to get tackled and get up unafraid.

“We want to grow the female participation throughout the whole of rugby league.”

Register here.

Main image: Karina Brown with Helensvale Hornet player Jenna. Photo: Gold Coast Titans

Queensland Women's Rugby League Archives - OurFootyTeam

QRL Grand Finals Weekend Wrap Junior Statewide Competitions

QRL Grand Finals Weekend Wrap Junior Statewide Competitions

QRL Grand Finals Weekend Wrap Junior Statewide Competitions

Harvey Norman u19 – Grand Final

Brisbane Tigers 30 def Western Clydesdales 6 at Totally Workwear Stadium.

Cyril Connell Cup – Grand Final

Burleigh Bears 18 def Mackay Cutters 12 at Totally Workwear Stadium

Harvey Norman u17 – Grand Final

Brisbane Tigers 32 def Sunshine Coast Falcons 04 at Totally Workwear Stadium.

Mal Meninga Cup – Round 9

Mackay Cutters 24 def Western Clydesdales 16 at Toowoomba Sports Ground.

Redcliffe Dolphins 46 def Townsville Blackhawks 16 at Jack Manski Oval.

Tweed Seagulls 52 def Sunshine Coast Falcons 10 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Burleigh Bears 62 def CQ Capras 0 at Rugby Park.

Souths Logan Magpies 32 def Brisbane Tigers 10 at Totally Workwear Stadium.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls 30 def Northern Pride 22 at Barlow Park.

Norths Devils 28 def Ipswich Jets 22 at North Ipswich Reserve.

Related Links

Round 9 Results

NSWRL Junior Reps news

Queensland junior rugby league news

International Junior Rugby League

School Footy News

Cutters win inaugural Women’s U 19 grand final

Cutters win inaugural Women’s U 19 grand final

Cutters win inaugural Women’s U 19 grand final

Tigers 16 – 18 Cutters

“Very happy for Matt.

Related Links

Queensland Under 19 staff confirmed

Queensland Under 19 staff confirmed

Queensland Under 19 staff confirmed

Queensland Under 19 coaching appointments 2022

Under 19 Men

Under 19 Women

Under 19 Women’s National Championships

Queensland Sapphires

Related Links

Gold Coast boom Girls’ numbers grow

Gold Coast boom Girls’ numbers grow as Karina Brown Challenge comes to town

Author : Rikki-Lee Arnold QRL Community content producer

Gold Coast boom: Girls’ numbers grow as Karina Brown Challenge comes to town

Beaumont – who takes the lead on female participation.

Register here.

Related Links