Queensland Cup Explained

Hostplus Queensland Cup
Current Season:2024 Queensland Cup
Pixels:150px
Formerly:Winfield State League
Channel Nine Cup
Bundy Gold Cup
QLD Wizard Cup
Intrust Super Cup
Sport:Rugby league
Founded:1996
Inaugural:1996
Owner:QRL
Ceo:Bruce Hatcher
Teams:15
Country:
Champion: Brisbane Tigers (2023)
Most Champs: Redcliffe Dolphins (6 titles)
Tv:
Sponsor:Hostplus
Levels:Level 2
Website:www.qrl.com.au
Related Comps:National Rugby League
NRL State Championship
Knock-On Effect NSW 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.

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

See also: Brisbane Rugby League premiership and Winfield State League.

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

See main article: 2007 Queensland Cup Season.

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

See main article: 2008 Queensland Cup Season. 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, 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. 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.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12]

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 ClubEst.Joined*City/TownStateHome VenueTitles (Last)NRL Affiliate
align=left Brisbane Tigers
(Affiliated team)
align=center 1917align=center 1996Brisbane QueenslandLanglands Parkalign=center 1 (2023) Storm
align=left Burleigh Bears
(Affiliated team)
align=center 1934align=center 1997Gold Coast QueenslandPizzey Parkalign=center 4 (2019) Broncos
align=left C. Q. Capras
(Affiliated team)
align=center 1996align=center 1996Rockhampton QueenslandBrowne Parkalign=center 0 Dolphins
align=left Ipswich Jets
(Affiliated team)
align=center 1982align=center 1996Ipswich QueenslandNorth Ipswich Reservealign=center 1 (2015) Titans[13]
align=left Mackay Cutters
(Affiliated team)
align=center 2007align=center 2008Mackay QueenslandBB Print Stadium Mackayalign=center 1 (2013) Cowboys
align=left Northern Pride
(Affiliated team)
align=center 2007align=center 2008Cairns QueenslandBarlow Parkalign=center 2 (2014) Cowboys
align=left Norths Devils
(Affiliated team)
align=center 1933align=center 1996Brisbane QueenslandBishop Parkalign=center 3 (2022) Dolphins
align=left PNG Hunters
(Affiliated team)
align=center 2013align=center 2014Port Moresby N. C. DistrictPNG Football Stadiumalign=center 1 (2017)None
align=left Redcliffe Dolphins
(Affiliated team)
align=center 1947align=center 1996Moreton Bay QueenslandKayo Stadiumalign=center 6 (2018) Dolphins
align=left Souths Logan Magpies
(Affiliated team)
align=center 1918align=center 2003Brisbane Queenslandalign=center 1 (2008) Broncos
align=left Sunshine Coast Falcons
(Affiliated team)
align=center 1996align=center 2008Sun. Coast Queenslandalign=center 1 (2009) Storm
align=left Townsville Blackhawks
(Affiliated team)
align=center 2014align=center 2015Townsville QueenslandJack Manski Ovalalign=center 0 Rabbitohs[14]
align=left Tweed Seagulls
(Affiliated team)
align=center 1909align=center 2003Tweed Heads NSWPiggabeen Complexalign=center 1 (2007) Titans
align=left Western Clydesdales
(Affiliated team)
align=center 2016align=center 2023Toowoomba QueenslandClive Berghofer Stadiumalign=center 0 Bulldogs[15]
align=left Wynnum Manly Seagulls
(Affiliated team)
align=center 1951align=center 1996Brisbane QueenslandKougari Ovalalign=center 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 ClubEst.First SeasonLast SeasonCity/TownStateHome VenueTitlesRecent
align=left Aspley Broncos align=center 1967align=center 2007align=center 2007Brisbane QueenslandBishop Parkalign=center 0align=center -
align=left Brisbane Brothersalign=center 1929align=center 1996align=center 1998Brisbane QueenslandCorbett Parkalign=center 0align=center -
align=left Brothers-Valleysalign=center 2002align=center 2004align=center 2004Brisbane QueenslandO'Callaghan Parkalign=center 0align=center -
align=left Bundaberg Grizzliesalign=center 1996align=center 1996align=center 1998Bundaberg QueenslandSalter Ovalalign=center 0align=center -
align=left Cairns Cyclonesalign=center 1996align=center 1996align=center 2000Cairns QueenslandBarlow Parkalign=center 0align=center -
align=left Gold Coast Vikingsalign=center 1982align=center 1998align=center 1998Gold Coast QueenslandCarrara Stadiumalign=center 0align=center -
align=left Logan Scorpionsalign=center 1987align=center 1996align=center 2002Logan QueenslandMeakin Parkalign=center 0align=center -
align=left Mackay Sea Eaglesalign=center 1996align=center 1996align=center 1996Mackay QueenslandMackay JRL Groundalign=center 0align=center -
align=left N. Q. Young Gunsalign=center 2002align=center 2002align=center 2007Townsville QueenslandDairy Farmers Stadiumalign=center 1align=center 2005
align=left Port Moresby Vipersalign=center 1986align=center 1996align=center 1997Port Moresby N. C. DistrictPNG Football Stadiumalign=center 0align=center -
align=left Townsville Stingersalign=center 1998align=center 1998align=center 1998Townsville QueenslandTownsville Sports Reservealign=center 0align=center -
align=left Toowoomba Clydesdales align=center 1996align=center 1996align=center 2006Toowoomba QueenslandClive Berghofer Stadiumalign=center 2align=center 2001
align=left Wests Panthersalign=center 1915align=center 1996align=center 2003Brisbane QueenslandPurtell Parkalign=center 0align=center -

Participating clubs by season

Channel 9 Cup
1996Bundaberg GrizzliesCairns CyclonesCentral CaprasEasts TigersIpswich JetsLogan City ScorpionsSouths MagpiesMackay Sea EaglesNorths DevilsPine Rivers BrothersPort Moresby VipersRedcliffe DolphinsSunshine Coast FalconsToowoomba ClydesdalesWests PanthersWynnum Seagulls
1997Burleigh Bears
Queensland Cup
1998Bundaberg GrizzliesBurleigh BearsCairns CyclonesCentral CaprasEasts TigersGold Coast VikingsIpswich JetsLogan ScorpionsSouths MagpiesNorths DevilsBrisbane BrothersRedcliffe DolphinsToowoomba ClydesdalesTownsville StingersWests PanthersWynnum Seagulls
1999
Bundy Gold Cup
2000Burleigh BearsCairns CyclonesCentral CometsEasts TigersIpswich JetsLogan ScorpionsSouths MagpiesNorths DevilsRedcliffe DolphinsToowoomba ClydesdalesWests PanthersWynnum Seagulls
2001Easts Coast Tigers
Queensland Cup
2002Burleigh BearsCentral CometsEasts Coast TigersIpswich JetsLogan ScorpionsSouths MagpiesNorths DevilsRedcliffe DolphinsToowoomba ClydesdalesNorth Queensland Young GunsWests PanthersWynnum Seagulls
2003Easts TigersSouths Logan MagpiesTweed Heads Seagulls
2004Brothers-Valleys
QLD Wizards Cup
2005Burleigh BearsCentral CometsEasts TigersIpswich JetsSouths Logan MagpiesNorths DevilsRedcliffe DolphinsToowoomba ClydesdalesTweed Heads SeagullsNorth Queensland Young GunsWynnum Seagulls
2006Wynnum -Manly Seagulls
2007Aspley Broncos
2008Northern PrideMackay Cutters
2009Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles
Intrust Super Cup
2010Burleigh BearsNorthern PrideCentral CometsEasts TigersIpswich JetsSouths Logan MagpiesMackay CuttersNorths DevilsRedcliffe DolphinsSunshine Coast Sea EaglesTweed Heads SeagullsWynnum -Manly Seagulls
2011Central Queensland Capras
2012Papua New Guinea HuntersSunshine Coast Falcons
2013Townsville Blackhawks
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021Brisbane Tigers
Hostplus Cup
2022Burleigh BearsNorthern PrideCentral Queensland CaprasBrisbane TigersIpswich JetsSouths Logan MagpiesMackay CuttersNorths DevilsPNG HuntersRedcliffe DolphinsSunshine Coast FalconsTweed Heads SeagullsTownsville BlackhawksWynnum -Manly Seagulls
2023Western Clydesdales
2024

Season structure

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.[16] [17]

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.[18]

Country Week

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.

In Round 20, 2011 the Souths Logan Magpies game against the Northern Pride was relocated from the Magpies home ground in Brisbane to Yusia Ginau Oval, Bamaga on Cape York.[19] The game attracted 2000 spectators, and was so successful that the following year QRL in partnership with the Queensland Government introduced the 'Country Week' concept and took 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

SeasonGrand FinalsMinor Premiers
PremiersScoreRunners-upVenuePremiersPoints
1996 Toowoomba Clydesdales (1st title)8  - 6 Redcliffe DolphinsSuncorp Stadium23
1997 Redcliffe Dolphins (1st)18  - 16 Easts Tigers29
Norths Devils (1st)35  - 16 Wests Panthers33
1999 Burleigh Bears (1st)12  - 10 Redcliffe Dolphins35
2000 Redcliffe Dolphins (2nd)14  - 6 Toowoomba Clydesdales38
2001 Toowoomba Clydesdales (2nd)28  - 26 Redcliffe DolphinsDolphin Oval41
2002 Redcliffe Dolphins (3rd)34  - 10 Ipswich Jets36
2003 Redcliffe Dolphins (4th)31  - 18 Burleigh Bears33
2004 Burleigh Bears (2nd)22  - 18 Easts TigersSuncorp Stadium34
2005 North Queensland Young Guns (1st)36  - 6 Burleigh Bears33
2006 Redcliffe Dolphins (5th)27  - 6 Toowoomba Clydesdales32
2007 Tweed Seagulls (1st)28  - 18 Redcliffe Dolphins34
2008 Souths Logan Magpies (1st)24  - 18 Ipswich Jets36
2009 Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles (1st)32  - 18 Northern Queensland Pride32
2010 Northern Queensland Pride (1st)30  - 20 Norths DevilsSuncorp Stadium34
2011 Wynnum Manly Seagulls (1st)16  - 10 Tweed Seagulls41
2012 Wynnum Manly Seagulls (2nd)20  - 10 Redcliffe Dolphins34
2013 Mackay Cutters (1st)27  - 20 Easts Tigers38
2014 Northern Queensland Pride (2nd)36  - 4 Easts TigersSuncorp Stadium44
2015 Ipswich Jets (1st)32  - 20 Townsville Blackhawks43
2016 Burleigh Bears (3rd)26  - 16 Redcliffe Dolphins40
2017 PNG Hunters (1st)12  - 10 Sunshine Coast Falcons39
2018 Redcliffe Dolphins (6th)36  - 22 Easts Tigers35
2019 Burleigh Bears (4th)28  - 10 Wynnum Manly Seagulls43
2020Season was initially suspended after round 1 and was then cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[22]
2021 Norths Devils (2nd)16  - 10 Wynnum Manly Seagulls30
2022 Norths Devils (3rd)16  - 10 Burleigh Bears31
2023 Brisbane Tigers (1st)22  - 18 Burleigh Bears Burleigh Bears35

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

ClubPremiershipsRunners-upMinor Premierships
1 Redcliffe Dolphins6 7 6
2 Burleigh Bears4 3 4
3 Norths Devils3 1 2
4 Toowoomba Clydesdales/W. Clydesdales2 2 3
5 Northern Pride2 1 3
6 Wynnum Manly Seagulls2 2 1
7 North Queensland Young Guns1 0 2
8 Tweed Seagulls1 1 1
9 Souths Logan Magpies1 0 2
10 Sunshine Coast Falcons1 1 1
11 Mackay Cutters1 0 0
12 Ipswich Jets1 2 1
13 PNG Hunters1 0 1
14 Easts Tigers/Brisbane Tigers1 5 0
15 Townsville Blackhawks0 1 1
16 Wests Panthers0 1 0
Notes:

NRL State Championship Match

See main article: NRL State Championship. 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[23] [24] 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

See main article: NRL State Championship. 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 [25] [26] and following the NRL Women's Grand Final since 2018.[27] [28] 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

SeasonNRL State ChampionshipMan of the Match
NRL State Championship PremiersScoreNRL State Championship Runners-upVenue
2014 Northern Pride32–28 Penrith PanthersANZ Stadium Javid Bowen
2015 Ipswich Jets26–12 Newcastle KnightsANZ Stadium Matt Parcell
2016 Illawarra Cutters54–12 Burleigh BearsANZ Stadium Drew Hutchison
2017 Penrith Panthers42–18 PNG HuntersANZ Stadium Kaide Ellis
2018 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs42–18 Redcliffe DolphinsANZ Stadium Josh Cleeland
2019 Newtown Jets20–16 Burleigh BearsANZ Stadium Toby Rudolf
2020Match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[29]
2021Match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in NSW.
2022 Penrith Panthers44–10 Norths DevilsAccor Stadium J'maine Hopgood
2023 South Sydney Rabbitohs42–22 Brisbane Tigers (Easts Tigers)Accor Stadium Tyrone Munro

Honours

See also: List of Queensland Cup 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.[30] 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.[31] 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.[32]

No. Name Club(s) Years Games Tries Goals Points
1. Ryan Cullen Central Queensland, Redcliffe, Easts2003–10 154 112 0 449
2. 2003–07, 2011–13, 2015–17 186 135 41 622
3. 1998–06 143 89 366 1,089
4. 2004–17 179 119 138 752
5. Heath Egglestone Central Queensland1996–04 150 99 1 398
6. Brad Davis (captain) 2005–12 154 23 483 1,066
7. 1996–98, 2002–11 218 95 6 409
8. Troy Lindsay 1996–09 270 17 6 80
9. 1998–11 253 71 134 555
10. Shane O'Flanagan 1997–08 210 33 0 132
11. Danny Burke 1998, 2000–09 219 26 0 104
12. Sime Busby Central Queensland, Easts1997–03 118 15 1 62
13. Danny Coburn 1998–10 258 32 0 128
14. 1996, 1998–03 129 36 0 144
15. Luke Dalziel-Don 2004, 2006–13 173 82 0 329
16. 2003–11 173 113 483 1,421
17. Phil Dennis Wests, Easts, Souths Logan2003–18 282 29 7 130
  • Statistics are correct to the end of the 2018 season

Records

See also: List of Queensland Cup records. The following records are taken from the QRL's official website and are correct as of the end of the 2019 season.[33]

Team

Individual

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.

See also

External links

Queensland Cup News

Queensland Rugby League forums

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History .
  2. News: Broncos lose stablemate Clydesdales . AAP . 6 December 2006.
  3. Web site: Aspley new Brisbane Broncos feeder club : thewest.com.au. thewest.com.au.
  4. Web site: Champion Gulls of '07 to reunite . 25 May 2017 .
  5. http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2007/nov/09/coast-lands-footy-coup/ Manly to invest $1m in Coast league | thedaily.com.au
  6. Web site: Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles is big business | Sport | Sport | thedaily.com.au . 2008-07-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080802210611/http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/jul/22/sunshine-coast-sea-eagles-big-business/ . 2 August 2008 . dmy .
  7. Web site: Intrust Super extends support . 6 March 2015 .
  8. News: Northern Pride stun Penrith Panthers in NRL's State Championship . October 5, 2014 . The Sydney Morning Herald . Adam Pengilly . 8 January 2022.
  9. News: PNG Hunters win their first Intrust Super Cup grand final with dramatic 12-10 over the Sunshine Coast . September 24, 2017 . The Courier Mail . Rikki-Lee Arnold . 8 January 2022.
  10. Web site: Eastern Suburbs to play as Brisbane Tigers from 2021. 4 September 2020. thetigers.com.au.
  11. Web site: Broncos coach Kevin Walters blasts Milford critics, Kotoni Staggs told to stay put. 17 September 2021. The Courier Mail.
  12. Web site: 2022-06-16 . Western Clydesdales prepare for entry into 2023 Hostplus Cup . 2022-06-23 . Queensland Rugby League . en.
  13. The Roosters also have a partnership agreement with the Jets but do not send the club any players.
  14. The Rabbitohs have a partnership agreement with the Blackhawks but do not send the club any players.
  15. The Bulldogs have a partnership agreement with the Clydesdales but do not send the club any players.
  16. Web site: Trials games Week 2 . 15 February 2018 .
  17. Web site: Brisbane Broncos attack fires late to down PNG Hunters in Port Moresby trial match . 24 February 2018 .
  18. Web site: 2018 Intrust Super Cup Draw . 13 December 2017 .
  19. News: Piva . Andrew . 1 August 2011 . Pride score extra home game at Cape York . Cairns Post . Cairns .
  20. Web site: High stakes and ladders: 2018 finals format . 31 July 2018 .
  21. News: Livermore . Ross . Australian Rugby Football League Annual Report 2007 . 9 . Australian Rugby League Limited . 2007 . 2009-07-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090913145959/http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/files/ARL_2007_Annrep_1.pdf . 13 September 2009 . dmy .
  22. Web site: Four QRL statewide competitions cancelled for 2020. 27 March 2020.
  23. Web site: State Championship preview: Panthers v Pride. October 2014.
  24. Web site: The greatest game never played. October 2014.
  25. Web site: State Championship preview: Panthers v Pride . October 2014 .
  26. Web site: The greatest game never played . October 2014 .
  27. Web site: State Championship preview: Panthers v Pride. 21 September 2017. nrl.com.
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