For the latest post, I thought I would look at the history of the second-tier Rugby League in a two-part series. Part two will deal with the current QLD Cup, The State League, the BRL and how we got here. All this and more in the latest edition of The Blog of Cheese.
Rugby League in Brisbane began in 1909 and was run by the QARFL. In 1922, The BRFL was unhappy with how the QARFL ran the game, and the BRL took control of the local competition. The QARFL tried to take back control of the competition to no avail. By the late 1920s, the QARFL held its own competing competition with clubs from Ipswich and two from Brisbane. The schism lasted until 1952.
From 1909-1932, the competition was haphazard, with teams coming and going and no team lasting from 1909-32. Clubs competing over the years were Fortitude Valley (1909-10 and 1914-32), North Brisbane (1909-11 and 1914), South Brisbane (1909-14), Toombul (1909-10), Ipswich (1909-11 and 1916), Ipswich B (1911), Valley-Toumbal (1911-12), Natives (1912-13) Kurilpa (1912), Railways (1913 and 1917-20), West End (1913-15 and 1919-20), Toowong (1914), Wynnum (1941 and 1931), Bulimba (1915 and 1920), Western Suburbs 1915-32), Woolloongabba (1915-16), Coorparoo (1917-32), Merthyr (1917-18), Wattles (1917), Westerns (1917-18), Carlton (1917-32), Past Christian Brothers (1920-29), Past Grammars (1920 and 1924-32) and University (1920-32).
In 1933, the Brisbane Rugby League introduced District Rugby League. Eastern Suburbs replaced Coorparoo, Southern Suburbs replaced Carlton and Northern Suburbs replaced Past Grammars. They were joined by; Fortitude Valley, Past Christian Brothers (whose players had to prove they went to a Christian school), University (who would leave at the end of the season) and Western Suburbs. Wynnum-Manly joined the BRL in 1951. South Coast joined in 1952 (left at the end of 1953). Redcliffe joined in 1962, and Ipswich joined in 1986. In 1987, Fortitude Valley was renamed Seagulls-Diehards (part of a short-lived joint venture with Tweed Heads Seagulls). Logan joined in 1988. In 1996, Brothers renamed themselves Pine Rivers Brothers. Fortitude Valley folded at the end of 1995. The Brisbane Rugby League finished at the end of 1997, leaving the QLD Cup as the premier Rugby League competition in Queensland.
In 1982, the QRL launched a State Cup. The State Cup featured the BRL sides and several representative sides. In 1988, the competition was changed, with the BRL results going toward the State Cup, instead of playing additional fixtures. In 1991, the Brisbane Capitals and the Brisbane Metros represented the BRL sides. Other sides competing included; Central QLD (1982-91), Gold Coast (1982-88), Ipswich (1982-1985, then as a BRL side), North QLD 1982-91, Rockhampton (1982-95), Toowoomba (1982-91, 94-95, Wide Bay (1982-92), Gladstone (1983-90, 92-95), Gold Coast Group 18 (1991-95), Northern Territory (1991-1992), Central Division (1992), and Northern Division (1992). From 1993-95 the State Cup was divided into groups based on the geographical area, allowing regional club sides to enter. These clubs included Brisbane-Ipswich Second Division (1993), Bundaberg (1993-95), Burkeidn-Whitsunday (1993-94), Cairns (1993-95), Callide Valley (1993), Central Burnett (1993-94), Central Highlands (1993-95), Central West (1993-95), Herbert River (1993-95), Mackay (1993-95), Maryborough-Hervey Bay (1993-95), Mount Isa (1993-95), Northern Districts (1993-95), South Burnett (1993-95), South West (1993-95), Sunshine Coast (1993), Townsville (1993-95), Ipswich Diggers (1993-95), Brisbane Broncos (1994-95), South Queensland Crushers (1994-95), Sunshine Coast-Gympie (1994-95) and Mid West (1995)
In 1996 the State Cup was re-launched as the QLD Cup (sponsored by Channel 9) and saw BRL sides competing alongside representative sides from outside Brisbane. Alongside the BRL clubs were; Bundaberg, Cairns, Central Queensland, Mackay, Port Morseby, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba. Bundaberg, Mackay and Sunshine Coast would withdraw at the end of 1996. In 1997, Burleigh joined the competition from Gold Coast Group 18. Port Moresby left at the end of 1997. Channel 9 withdrew as a naming rights sponsor at the end of 1997. Bundaberg re-joined for 1998, alongside Gold Coast and Townsville; all three sides would only last the season. Also leaving at the end of 1998 was BRL club Brothers, who competed the 1998 season as Brisbane Brothers. Bundaberg Rum took over the naming rights for the 2000 season. Cairns would leave at the end of the 2000 season. The North Queensland Young Guns joined in 2002. Logan left at the end of 2002 after being taken over by Southern Suburbs. Tweed Heads joined in 2003 from the Gold Coast competition. Brothers and Fortitude Valley formed Brothers-Valleys, who competed in 2004, lasting only one season. Also leaving at the end of 2004 was Western Suburbs. In 2005, Wizard Home Loans took over as the naming rights sponsor. Toowoomba would leave at the end of 2006, being replaced by Aspley for 2007. Aspley and North Queensland, who were both feeder sides, would leave at the end of 2007 due to the National Youth Competition, which started in 2008. Mackay and the Northern Pride joined in 2008. 2009 saw Sunshine Coast re-joining the competition. Present naming rights sponsor Intrust Super came on board in 2010. In 2014, the PNG Hunters joined the competition. Townsville re-joined in 2015.
From 1999-2006 Toowoomba Clydesdales were the Brisbane Broncos’ feeder side. In 2007, Aspley Broncos were Brisbane’s feeder. In 2008-2010 Eastern Suburbs acted as a Brisbane feeder. In 2008 and 2009, Burleigh acted as a feeder of Brisbane. Central QLD had a relationship with Brisbane(2008-14) and Ipswich (2013-17). Brisbane currently has feeder relationships with Northern Suburbs (since 2008), Redcliffe (since 2006), Souths-Logan (since 2015), and Wynnum (since 2008)
Townsville Stingers were the feeder club of the North Queensland Cowboys in 1998. In 1999 and 2000, the North Queensland Young Guns joined the NSW Cup as they weren’t allowed to enter a team in the QLD Cup. North Queensland re-joined the QLD Cup in 2002. Since 2008, Mackay and the Northern Pride have been North Queensland’s feeder sides (Townsville joined as a feeder in 2015).
From 1998-2007, Northern Suburbs was a feeder of Melbourne (2005-06 as a co-feeder with North Sydney). Since 2011, the Easts Tigers have been a feeder of the Melbourne Storm. In 2014, Sunshine Coast became a co-feeder of Melbourne.
Gold Coast currently have feeder relationships with Burleigh (2007 & 2010-current) and Tweed Heads (since 2007). Ipswich Jets were a Gold Coast feeder from (2007-12). Central Queensland was a Gold Coast Feeder for one season (2017)
Several non-QLD NRL clubs have had feeder relationships with QLD Cup clubs, including; Canberra (Souths-Logan 2008-14), Cronulla (Eastern Suburbs 2000-02), Manly (Sunshine Coast 2009-10), Penrith (Eastern Suburbs 2004-05) and South Sydney (Eastern Suburbs 2007).
In 2015 the Brisbane Rugby League was re-launched as a reserve-grade competition for the Brisbane-based Intrust Super Cup clubs and the Ipswich Jets. The clubs in 2015 were Carina, Eastern Suburbs, Gaters, Logan, Normanby, Redcliffe, Valleys, Western Suburbs and Wynnum Manly Redland City. At the end of 2016, Carina, Gaters and Normanby had left the competition, and Wynnum Manly dropped Redland City from its name. Ipswich returned to the local league in 2018. Also, in 2018, Souths Logan replaced Logan. In 2919 the BRL was re-launched for 2020. The ISC sides would withdraw. Most ISC sides would have two feeder clubs. Eastern Suburbs (Carina and Bulimba), Northern Suburbs (Valleys and Wests Panthers), Redcliffe (Brighton and Pine Rivers), Souths Logan (Normanby), Wynnum (Wynnum Juniors and Beenleigh). Each ISC squad will have a maximum of 30 contracted players which will feed into the BRL sides, with each BRL side allowed to field a maximum of 8 ISC players per game. A 10th club is still to be confirmed.
And Another Thing: It is interesting the NRL claim that they are growing the game in the Pacific, though I wonder how much promoting they would be doing without the government’s help? Sport for development in the Pacific
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Till next time,
Cheese
Thanks to this web page for all the State League teams: WINFIELD STATE LEAGUE RESULTS 1982-1995)