Queensland Cup

The Queensland Cup, currently known as the Hostplus Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level regional rugby league football competition in Queensland, Australia. It is run by the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) and is contested by fifteen teams, thirteen of which are based in Queensland, with one based in New South Wales and one in Central Province, Papua New Guinea.

Hostplus Queensland Cup
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 Queensland Cup
FormerlyWinfield State League
Channel Nine Cup
Bundy Gold Cup
QLD Wizard Cup
Intrust Super Cup
SportRugby league
Founded1996
Inaugural season1996
Owner(s)QRL
CEOBruce Hatcher
No. of teams15
Country Australia
 Papua New Guinea
Most recent
champion(s)
Brisbane Tigers (2023)
Most titles Redcliffe Dolphins (6 titles)
TV partner(s)
Sponsor(s)Hostplus
Level on pyramidLevel 2
Related
competitions
National Rugby League
NRL State Championship
Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Official websitewww.qrl.com.au

The competition is the present-day embodiment of Queensland's top-level club competition. It replaced the Winfield State League in 1996 and accompanied the Brisbane Rugby League, before becoming the premier competition in 1998, following the disbanding of the Brisbane Rugby League.

History

Origin and establishment

Since its inaugural season in 1922, the Brisbane Rugby League was the premier competition in the state of Queensland. Like its counterpart, the Sydney Rugby Football League, the Brisbane Rugby League was thriving, boasting big crowds and large, loyal supporter bases with their respective clubs. The clubs were constant, with new teams rarely entering the competition. However, in 1956, when poker machines ("pokies") were introduced in New South Wales but not in Queensland, Sydney's clubs were able to recruit the best players from Brisbane, Rugby Union and overseas. Within the space of several years, the Sydney Rugby League had come to dominate the code within Australia.

In the 1980s, the NSWRFL began to further expand and supersede the Brisbane competition in popularity and media coverage. In 1982, the first clubs based outside of Sydney, the Canberra Raiders and Illawarra Steelers, were admitted. In 1988, two Queensland-based sides, the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Giants, along with the Newcastle Knights, another team from regional New South Wales, were formed and gained entry into the competition. The Broncos would sign Brisbane Rugby League stars like Wally Lewis, Gene Miles and Allan Langer. In the space of one season, media coverage and match attendance for the Brisbane Rugby League dropped significantly.

1996–1997: The beginning

In 1996, the Queensland Cup was formed, replacing the Winfield State League, as new federal government laws banned cigarette companies from sponsoring sport. Originally branded the Channel Nine Cup, the 15 round regular season competition featured sixteen teams, fifteen from Queensland and one from Papua New Guinea. The Toowoomba Clydesdales were crowned the inaugural premiers, defeating the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Grand Final. In 1997, three teams withdrew from the competition and the Burleigh Bears joined, becoming the first Gold Coast-based side.

1998–2002: Premier competition

In 1998, the competition became the top level of rugby league in the state, following the end of the Brisbane Rugby League. Channel Nine also ended their sponsorship for the 1998 season, with competition going under name, the Queensland Cup. A sixteen-team competition returned in 1998, with the Bundaberg Grizzlies rejoining and the Gold Coast Vikings being formed.

In 1999, the Grizzlies and Vikings both left the competition, as well as inaugural club Brisbane Brothers and the Townsville Stingers, who played just one season.

In 2000, Bundaberg Rum began a two-year sponsorship of the competition and it was known as the Bundy Gold Cup. The 2000 season was also the first in which all twelve teams remained from the season prior. It would not last long though, as the Cairns Cyclones folded after the 2000 season, leaving no north Queensland representation in the competition. In 2002, the North Queensland Young Guns, a Townsville-based North Queensland Cowboys feeder club, were admitted into the competition. At the end of the 2002 season, the Logan Scorpions, an inaugural club, left the competition.

2003–2006: Interstate expansion

In 2003, the Tweed Seagulls joined the competition, becoming the first New South Wales-based side. The club had originally applied for the 2002 season but were unsuccessful. However, following a merger of the Logan Scorpions and Souths Magpies to form the Souths Logan Magpies, a spot was opened up and Tweed were admitted.[1] Another inaugural club would leave the competition in 2004, with the Wests Panthers exiting, and Brothers-Valleys, a merger of Past Brothers and the Fortitude Valley Diehards, joining for a single season.

In 2005, the competition became known as the Queensland Wizard Cup, after Wizard Home Loans became the major sponsor.

2007: Loss of the Clydesdales

Although the QRL had anticipated that the same teams from 2006 would participate in the 2007 competition, it was announced on 5 December 2006 that inaugural club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales, who were the reigning minor premiers, would be withdrawing from the competition for financial reasons. Brisbane Broncos chairman Bruno Cullen said that "It didn't make sense to have this club up there running at what was looking like a $250,000 loss for the year."[2] The following day it was announced that the Aspley Broncos would be replacing the Clydesdales, and acting as the Brisbane Broncos feeder club.[3] The Aspley Broncos would play just a single season in the competition.

The 2007 season marked the first time a team based outside of Queensland would win the competition, with the Tweed Seagulls defeating the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Grand Final.[4]

2008–2013: Further expansion

2008 saw the Queensland Cup once again have teams based in the northern cities of Cairns and Mackay after absences of seven and twelve years, respectively. These new teams replaced Aspley and North Queensland as part of the rationalisation of rugby league below the NRL level caused by the introduction of the NRL under 20s competition.

In 2009, the Sunshine Coast Falcons rejoined the competition after thirteen-year absence, after signing a partnership with the Manly Sea Eagles to develop rugby league on the Sunshine Coast.[5][6] The side played as the Sea Eagles and won the premiership in their first year.

In 2010, Intrust Super was announced as the new major sponsor, with the competition becoming known as the Intrust Super Cup.[7] From 2009 to 2013, the competition featured the same twelve teams for five straight seasons.

2014–2021: Papua New Guinea and Townsville return

In 2014, the PNG Hunters entered the competition, becoming the first Papua New Guinea based side in the competition since the Port Moresby Vipers in 1997. In their inaugural season, the side was based out of the East New Britain town of Kokopo. On 10 September 2014, QRL chairman Peter Betros announced that the Brothers Townsville-led Townsville Blackhawks bid had been successful and the side would compete in the 2015 season.

On 5 October 2014, the Northern Pride became the first Queensland Cup side to win the NRL State Championship, defeating the heavily favoured Penrith Panthers New South Wales Cup side in the inaugural final.[8]

In 2017, the Hunters won their first Queensland Cup premiership, defeating the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Grand Final and becoming the first team outside of Australia, and the second from outside of Queensland to win the competition.[9]

On 27 March 2020, after round one of the season was completed, the 2020 Intrust Super Cup competition was suspended, and subsequently cancelled for the first time in its history due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with no premiers being crowned.[10] In September 2020, the Easts Tigers were renamed as the Brisbane Tigers for the 2021 season onward. The Tigers had played under the name of Easts or Eastern Suburbs since the formation of the Queensland Cup in 1996.[11]

2022–present: Hostplus Cup and return of the Clydesdales

In November 2021, Hostplus became the naming rights sponsor of the competition for the 2022 season, replacing Intrust Super after the two merged.[12]

On July 17, the QRL announced that the Western Clydesdales, previously called the Toowoomba Clydesdales would (re)enter the competition for the 2023 season, becoming the competition's fifteenth team.[13]

Queensland Cup teams

The Queensland Cup consists of 15 teams, 13 from Queensland, and 1 each from National Capital District of Papua New Guinea and New South Wales, and operates on a single group system, with no divisions or conferences and no relegation and promotion from other leagues.
A number of clubs in the Queensland Cup have an affiliation with a team in the Australian national competition, the National Rugby League.

Current teams

Queensland Cup
Rugby League Club Est. Joined* City/Town State Home Venue Title/s Recent NRL Affiliate
Brisbane Tigers 1917 1996 Brisbane Queensland Langlands Park 1 2023 Storm
Burleigh Bears 1934 1997 Gold Coast Queensland Pizzey Park 4 2019 Broncos
Central Queensland Capras 1996 1996 Rockhampton Queensland Browne Park 0 - Dolphins
Ipswich Jets 1982 1996 Ipswich Queensland North Ipswich Reserve 1 2015 Titans[14]
Mackay Cutters 2007 2008 Mackay Queensland BB Print Stadium Mackay 1 2013 Cowboys
Northern Pride 2007 2008 Cairns Queensland Barlow Park 2 2014 Cowboys
Norths Devils 1933 1996 Brisbane Queensland Bishop Park 3 2022 Dolphins
PNG Hunters 2013 2014 Port Moresby Nat. Cap. District PNG Football Stadium 1 2017 None
Redcliffe Dolphins 1947 1996 Moreton Bay Queensland Moreton Daily Stadium 6 2018 Dolphins
Souths Logan Magpies 1918 2003 Brisbane Queensland Davies Park 1 2008 Broncos
Sunshine Coast Falcons 1996 2008 Sunshine Coast Queensland Sunshine Coast Stadium 1 2009 Storm
Townsville Blackhawks 2014 2015 Townsville Queensland Jack Manski Oval 0 - Rabbitohs[15]
Tweed Seagulls 1909 2003 Tweed Heads New South Wales Piggabeen Sports Complex 1 2007 Titans
Western Clydesdales 2016 2023 Toowoomba Queensland Clive Berghofer Stadium 0 - Bulldogs[16]
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 1951 1996 Brisbane Queensland Kougari Oval 2 2012 Broncos
* The season the team joined the competition in its current form and consecutive tenure.

Former teams

As the Queensland Cup initially began as a representative competition that took over the old Winfield State League before becoming a proper club competition, many of the following clubs were "representative" sides that either withdrew (in the case of Mackay and Bundaberg) or folded (Cairns Cyclones and Port Moresby Vipers).

Queensland Cup
Rugby League Club Est. First Season Last Season City/Town State Home Venue Titles Recent
Aspley Broncos 1967 2007 2007 Brisbane Queensland Bishop Park 0 -
Brisbane Brothers 1929 1996 1998 Brisbane Queensland Corbett Park 0 -
Brothers-Valleys 2002 2004 2004 Brisbane Queensland O'Callaghan Park 0 -
Bundaberg Grizzlies 1996 1996 1998 Bundaberg Queensland Salter Oval 0 -
Cairns Cyclones 1996 1996 2000 Cairns Queensland Barlow Park 0 -
Gold Coast Vikings 1982 1998 1998 Gold Coast Queensland Carrara Stadium 0 -
Logan Scorpions 1987 1996 2002 Logan Queensland Meakin Park 0 -
Mackay Sea Eagles 1996 1996 1996 Mackay Queensland Mackay JRL Ground 0 -
North Queensland Young Guns 2002 2002 2007 Townsville Queensland Dairy Farmers Stadium 1 2005
Port Moresby Vipers 1986 1996 1997 Port Moresby Nat. Cap. District PNG Football Stadium 0 -
Townsville Stingers 1998 1998 1998 Townsville Queensland Townsville Sports Reserve 0 -
Toowoomba Clydesdales 1996 1996 2006 Toowoomba Queensland Clive Berghofer Stadium 2 2001
Wests Panthers 1915 1996 2003 Brisbane Queensland Purtell Park 0 -
* Brisbane Brothers played as the Pine Rivers Brothers from 1996 to 1997. Toowoomba Clydesdales returned to the Queensland Cup as the Western Clydesdales in 2023

Season structure

An Easts Tigers player tackled by the Redcliffe Dolphins at Langlands Park

Pre-season

The Queensland Cup pre-season typically begins in February and ends in early March. Clubs generally use this time to organise trial matches to test playing combinations. Usually, Queensland Cup teams will play each other in trials, while some face National Rugby League (NRL) sides. For example, in 2018, the Brisbane Broncos played trial matches against the Central Queensland Capras and PNG Hunters.[17][18]

Regular season

The Queensland Cup regular season usually begins in early March and runs until late August. A round of regular season games is played every weekend for twenty-four weeks. In most rounds, matches are played on Saturday nights/afternoons and Sunday afternoons. Each team receives one bye during the regular season.

The regular season also features a number of themed rounds, where proceeds from the games go to various charities. In 2018, these rounds included ANZAC Round, Indigenous Round, Men of League Round, Women in League Round, "Turn to Me" Round and the annual Country Week.[19]

Country Week

Queensland Cup teams based and located outside South East Queensland

The Queensland Cup has the largest regional footprint of any professional sporting code in Queensland, hosting regular season and trial matches over a large geographical footprint.

It is also unique amongst professional sporting competitions in Australia, since 2012 in partnership with the Queensland Government the Queensland Cup has taken matches to regional Queensland, country towns and cities, to engage fans at a grassroots level. This round usually takes place in July.

Locations which have hosted Country Week games include:

In addition to this round games have also been played in regional locations during regular rounds in:

Finals Series

The eight highest placed teams at the end of the regular season compete in the finals series. The system consists of a number of games between the top eight teams over four weeks in September, until only two teams remain. These two teams then contest the Grand Final, which is usually played in late September. Over the years, the Queensland Cup has used a number of different finals series systems, usually involving five to six[20] and now eight teams. In 2019, the current eight team final series system will be adopted.

Grand Final

The Queensland Cup Grand Final, which determines the season's premiers, is one of the state's major sporting events. It is usually contested at Suncorp Stadium, having been held there annually since 2014, although other venues have been used, such as Dolphin Stadium, North Ipswich Reserve and Sunshine Coast Stadium.

The Grand Final had traditionally been played on Saturday afternoons, until moving to Sunday afternoons beginning in 2010.

Since 2007, the player judged to be the man-of-the-match is awarded the prestigious Duncan Hall Medal.[21]

Premiership winners

Season Grand Finals Minor Premiers
Premiers Score Runners-up Venue Premiers Points
1996 Toowoomba Clydesdales (1st title) 8 6 Redcliffe Dolphins Suncorp Stadium Toowoomba Clydesdales 23
1997 Redcliffe Dolphins (1st) 18 16 Easts Tigers Wynnum Manly Seagulls 29
1998 Norths Devils (1st) 35 16 Wests Panthers Norths Devils 33
1999 Burleigh Bears (1st) 12 10 Redcliffe Dolphins Redcliffe Dolphins 35
2000 Redcliffe Dolphins (2nd) 14 6 Toowoomba Clydesdales Redcliffe Dolphins 38
2001 Toowoomba Clydesdales (2nd) 28 26 Redcliffe Dolphins Dolphin Oval Toowoomba Clydesdales 41
2002 Redcliffe Dolphins (3rd) 34 10 Ipswich Jets Redcliffe Dolphins 36
2003 Redcliffe Dolphins (4th) 31 18 Burleigh Bears Burleigh Bears 33
2004 Burleigh Bears (2nd) 22 18 Easts Tigers Suncorp Stadium Burleigh Bears 34
2005 North Queensland Young Guns (1st) 36 6 Burleigh Bears North Queensland Young Guns 33
2006 Redcliffe Dolphins (5th) 27 6 Toowoomba Clydesdales Toowoomba Clydesdales 32
2007 Tweed Seagulls (1st) 28 18 Redcliffe Dolphins North Queensland Young Guns 34
2008 Souths Logan Magpies (1st) 24 18 Ipswich Jets Ipswich Jets 36
2009 Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles (1st) 32 18 Northern Queensland Pride Souths Logan Magpies 32
2010 Northern Queensland Pride (1st) 30 20 Norths Devils Suncorp Stadium Souths Logan Magpies 34
2011 Wynnum Manly Seagulls (1st) 16 10 Tweed Seagulls Tweed Seagulls 41
2012 Wynnum Manly Seagulls (2nd) 20 10 Redcliffe Dolphins Redcliffe Dolphins 34
2013 Mackay Cutters (1st) 27 20 Easts Tigers Northern Queensland Pride 38
2014 Northern Queensland Pride (2nd) 36 4 Easts Tigers Suncorp Stadium Northern Queensland Pride 44
2015 Ipswich Jets (1st) 32 20 Townsville Blackhawks Townsville Blackhawks 43
2016 Burleigh Bears (3rd) 26 16 Redcliffe Dolphins Redcliffe Dolphins 40
2017 PNG Hunters (1st) 12 10 Sunshine Coast Falcons PNG Hunters 39
2018 Redcliffe Dolphins (6th) 36 22 Easts Tigers Redcliffe Dolphins 35
2019 Burleigh Bears (4th) 28 10 Wynnum Manly Seagulls Sunshine Coast Falcons 43
2020 Season was initially suspended and was then cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[10]
2021 Norths Devils (2nd) 16 10 Wynnum Manly Seagulls Norths Devils 30
2022 Norths Devils (3rd) 16 10 Redcliffe Dolphins Burleigh Bears 31
2023 Brisbane Tigers (1st) 22 18 Burleigh Bears Burleigh Bears 35

List of most successful clubs

Teams are ranked in order of premierships won, grand final runners up then minor premierships won. To see the complete list of Queensland Cup records, see List of Queensland Cup records. Team names in bold are the teams currently playing in the Queensland Cup

Club Premierships Runners-up Minor Premierships
1 Redcliffe Dolphins6 (1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2018)7 (1996, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2012, 2016, 2022)6 (1999, 2000, 2002, 2012, 2016, 2018)
2 Burleigh Bears4 (1999, 2004, 2016, 2019)3 (2003, 2005, 2023)4 (2003, 2004, 2022, 2023)
3 Norths Devils3 (1998, 2021, 2022)1 (2010)2 (1998, 2021)
4 Toowoomba Clydesdales/W. Clydesdales2 (1996, 2001)2 (2000, 2006)3 (1996, 2001, 2006)
5 Northern Queensland Pride2 (2010, 2014)1 (2009)2 (2013, 2014)
6 Wynnum Manly Seagulls2 (2011, 2012)2 (2019, 2021)1 (1997)
7 North Queensland Young Guns1 (2005)02 (2005, 2007)
8 Tweed Seagulls1 (2007)1 (2011)1 (2011)
9 Souths Logan Magpies1 (2008)02 (2009, 2010)
10 Sunshine Coast Falcons1 (2009)[lower-roman 1]1 (2017)1 (2019)
11 Mackay Cutters1 (2013)00
12 Ipswich Jets1 (2015)2 (2002, 2008)1 (2008)
13 PNG Hunters1 (2017)01 (2017)
14 Easts Tigers/Brisbane Tigers1 (2023)5 (1997, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2018)0
15 Townsville Blackhawks01 (2015)1 (2015)
16 Wests Panthers01 (1998)0
Notes:
  1. As the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles

NRL State Championship Match

Since 2014, The NSW Cup Grand Final Match has been played on the same day as the QLD Cup Grand Final, the weekend prior to the NRL Grand Final, allowing for the creation of the NRL State Championship which saw the NSW Cup premiers face off against the QLD Cup Premiers as a curtain raiser to the NRL Grand Final, originally following the National Youth Competition Grand Final from 2014 to 2017[22][23] and following the NRL Women's Grand Final in their inaugural premiership year in 2018.

In 2019 however, the State Championship was the first of three grand finals played on the day, preceding both the NRL Women's premiership and NRL premiership, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 State Championships being cancelled due to COVID-19. Northern Pride and Ipswich Jets became the first and so far only QRL teams to win in as many years with the next three championships won by the NSWRL.

Champions: Queensland Cup

NRL State Championship Match

Since 2014, The QLD Cup Grand Final Match has been played on the same day as the NSW Cup Grand Final, the weekend prior to the NRL Grand Final, allowing for the creation of the NRL State Championship which saw the QLD Cup premiers face off against the NSW Cup Premiers as a curtain raiser to the NRL Grand Final, originally following the National Youth Competition Grand Final from 2014 to 2017 [24][25] and following the NRL Women's Grand Final since 2018.[26][27] In 2019 the NRL State Championship was played prior the NRL Women's Grand Final. The 2020 State Championship was cancelled due to the Queensland and New South Wales competitions being cancelled after Round 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 State Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Sydney.

NRL State Championship winners

Season NRL State Championship Man of the Match
NRL State Championship Premiers Score NRL State Championship Runners-up Venue
2014 Northern Queensland Pride 32–28 Penrith Panthers ANZ Stadium Javid Bowen
2015 Ipswich Jets 26–12 Newcastle Knights ANZ Stadium Matt Parcell
2016 Illawarra Cutters 54–12 Burleigh Bears ANZ Stadium Drew Hutchison
2017 Penrith Panthers 42–18 PNG Hunters ANZ Stadium Kaide Ellis
2018 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 42–18 Redcliffe Dolphins ANZ Stadium Josh Cleeland
2019 Newtown Jets 20–16 Burleigh Bears ANZ Stadium Toby Rudolf
2020 Match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[28]
2021 Match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in NSW.
2022 Penrith Panthers 44–10 Norths Devils Accor Stadium J'maine Hopgood
2023 South Sydney Rabbitohs 42–22 Brisbane Tigers (Easts Tigers) Accor Stadium Tyrone Munro

Honours

At the end of each season at the QRL presentation night, the Petero Civoniceva Medal is awarded to the Queensland Cup player voted as the best and fairest over the entire season. Formerly known as The Courier Mail Medal, in 2018, the medal was renamed after former Australian and Queensland representative Petero Civoniceva.[29] After each game, the referees award three votes to the best player, two votes to the second-best player, and one vote to the third-best player.[30] Previous winners include Australia and Queensland representatives Greg Inglis and Daly Cherry-Evans.

Since 2007, the man of the match in the Grand Final has been awarded the Duncan Hall Medal. The medal is named in honour of ARL Team of the Century member Duncan Hall, who played 24 games for Queensland and 22 games for Australia between 1948 and 1955. Past recipients include Tony Williams and Jake Granville, who would go onto win NRL premierships shortly after their Queensland Cup success.

20th Year Anniversary Team

On 21 September 2015, the QRL announced their Queensland Cup 20th Year Anniversary team. The 17-man team was chosen by a selection panel consisting of Brad Tallon (Queensland Rugby League statistician), Steve Ricketts (rugby league journalist), David Wright (former ABC commentator) and Mike Higgison (rugby league historian).

To be eligible for selection, a player must've played a minimum of 75 games in the competition. Rick Stone, who coached the Burleigh Bears from 1997 to 2005 (winning two premierships), was named coach of the side, while longtime referee Tony Maksoud was included as referee of the team.[31]

No.NameClub(s)YearsGamesTriesGoalsPoints
1.Ryan CullenCentral Queensland, Redcliffe, Easts2003–101541120449
2.Nathanael BarnesTweed Heads, Wynnum Manly2003–07, 2011–13, 2015–1718613541622
3.Reggie CressbrookTownsville, Burleigh, Ipswich1998–06143893661,089
4.Donald MaloneToowoomba, Easts, Ipswich, Mackay, Sunshine Coast2004–17179119138752
5.Heath EgglestoneCentral Queensland1996–04150991398
6.Brad Davis (captain)Tweed Heads2005–12154234831,066
7.Shane PerryBrothers, Logan, Redcliffe, Norths1996–98, 2002–11218956409
8.Troy LindsayRedcliffe1996–0927017680
9.Mick RobertsRedcliffe, Norths1998–1125371134555
10.Shane O'FlanaganWests, Burleigh1997–08210330132
11.Danny BurkeBrothers, Redcliffe1998, 2000–09219260104
12.Sime BusbyCentral Queensland, Easts1997–0311815162
13.Danny CoburnIpswich1998–10258320128
14.Luke ScottSouths, Townsville, Redcliffe1996, 1998–03129360144
15.Luke Dalziel-DonWynnum Manly2004, 2006–13173820329
16.Nick ParfittToowoomba, Burleigh2003–111731134831,421
17.Phil DennisWests, Easts, Souths Logan2003–18282297130
* Statistics are correct to the end of the 2018 season

Records

The following records are taken from the QRL's official website and are correct as of the end of the 2019 season.[32]

Team

Individual

  • Most games – Phil Dennis, 282 games
  • Most tries – Daniel Ogden, 155 tries
  • Most points – Nick Parfitt 1,421 points (113 tries, 483 goals)
  • Most points in a season 318, Liam Georgetown (2013)
  • Most tries in a season 34, Daniel Kennedy 2004
  • Most points in a game 40, Damien Richter 2002, Greg Bourke 2002
  • Most tries in a game 7, Chris Walker 2000, Anthony Zipf 2004

Media coverage & Sponsorship

Although the Queensland Cup has never had the same amount of media coverage that the pre-Brisbane Broncos Brisbane Rugby League did, in recent years it has experienced a resurgence in interest from both the Queensland media and from casual fans alike.

Television

In 2018, the match of the round was televised live on the Nine Network in Queensland at 1:00pm (AEST) on Saturdays. Previously, the match of the round had been broadcast by Nine on Sunday afternoons and before that, on ABC Television on Saturday afternoons. The match is later replayed during the week on Foxtel's Fox League channel. The match of the round returned to Sunday afternoons for the 2019 season.

The non-broadcast games are recorded for highlights and judiciary and coaching purposes.

Radio

From 2006 to 2013, community broadcaster Bay FM began broadcasting Wynnum Manly matches with commentators Mike Higgison and Troy Robbins.

In 2015, a group of community broadcasters including Switch 1197, Valley FM Esk and Phoenix Radio Ipswich began broadcasting matches featuring Ipswich Jets.

Online

Starting from 2022 Queensland Rugby League announced a new streaming deal with Cluch.tv under the website name Qplus.TV where fan can subscribe to watch every game live.

Sponsorship

Due to sponsorship, the Queensland Cup has gone under many different names since first being held in 1996. Originally known as the Channel Nine Cup, it has been known as the Hostplus Cup since 2022.

  • Channel Nine Cup (1996–1997)
  • Bundy Rum Gold Cup (2000–2001)
  • Wizard Cup (2005–2008)
  • Intrust Super Cup (2010–2021)
  • Hostplus Cup (2022–present)

See also

References

  1. "History".
  2. "Broncos lose stablemate Clydesdales". AAP. 6 December 2006.
  3. "Aspley new Brisbane Broncos feeder club : thewest.com.au". thewest.com.au.
  4. "Champion Gulls of '07 to reunite". 25 May 2017.
  5. Manly to invest $1m in Coast league | thedaily.com.au Archived 11 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles is big business | Sport | Sport | thedaily.com.au". Archived from the original on 2 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  7. "Intrust Super extends support". 6 March 2015.
  8. Adam Pengilly (5 October 2014). "Northern Pride stun Penrith Panthers in NRL's State Championship". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  9. Rikki-Lee Arnold (24 September 2017). "PNG Hunters win their first Intrust Super Cup grand final with dramatic 12-10 over the Sunshine Coast". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  10. "Four QRL statewide competitions cancelled for 2020". 27 March 2020.
  11. "Eastern Suburbs to play as Brisbane Tigers from 2021". thetigers.com.au. 4 September 2020.
  12. "Broncos coach Kevin Walters blasts Milford critics, Kotoni Staggs told to stay put". The Courier Mail. 17 September 2021.
  13. "Western Clydesdales prepare for entry into 2023 Hostplus Cup". Queensland Rugby League. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  14. The Roosters also have a partnership agreement with the Jets but do not send the club any players.
  15. The Rabbitohs have a partnership agreement with the Blackhawks but do not send the club any players.
  16. The Bulldogs have a partnership agreement with the Clydesdales but do not send the club any players.
  17. "Trials games Week 2". 15 February 2018.
  18. "Brisbane Broncos attack fires late to down PNG Hunters in Port Moresby trial match". 24 February 2018.
  19. "2018 Intrust Super Cup Draw". 13 December 2017.
  20. "High stakes and ladders: 2018 finals format". 31 July 2018.
  21. Livermore, Ross (2007). "Australian Rugby Football League Annual Report 2007" (PDF). Australian Rugby League Limited. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  22. "State Championship preview: Panthers v Pride". October 2014.
  23. "The greatest game never played". October 2014.
  24. "State Championship preview: Panthers v Pride". October 2014.
  25. "The greatest game never played". October 2014.
  26. "State Championship preview: Panthers v Pride". nrl.com. 21 September 2017.
  27. "The greatest game never played". nrl.com. 21 September 2017.
  28. "NSWRL cancels nine competitions for 2020 season". New South Wales Rugby League. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  29. "Civoniceva Medal to recognise best & fairest". August 2018.
  30. "The official site of the QRL - QRL.com.au". Queensland Rugby League.
  31. "Anniversary Team - QRL". www.qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015.
  32. "About Us". Queensland Rugby League.

Queensland Cup News

Queensland Rugby League forums

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.