- Queensland Cup
-
Queensland Cup 
Sport Rugby league football Inaugural season 1996 Number of teams 12 Country 
AustraliaPremiers Wynnum Manly Seagulls (2011) Most titles Redcliffe Dolphins (5 titles) Website Queensland Cup Broadcast partner ABC1 The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.
It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.
The competition began in 1996 as a replacement for the Winfield State League, and as an accompaniment for the Brisbane Rugby League competition. The Queensland Cup become the premier competition in Queensland in 1998, when the BRL was disbanded.
Contents
Club Information
An Easts Tigers player tackled by the Redcliffe Dolphins at Langlands Park
Team Home Ground City Joined Premierships NRL Affiliation 
Burleigh BearsPizzey Park Gold Coast 1997 2 (99, 04) 
Gold Coast Titans
Central CometsBrowne Park Rockhampton 1996 Nil 
Brisbane Broncos
Easts TigersLanglands Park Brisbane 1996 Nil 
Melbourne Storm
Ipswich JetsNorth Ipswich Reserve Ipswich 1996 Nil Gold Coast Titans
Mackay CuttersVirgin Australia Stadium, Mackay Mackay 2007 Nil 
North Queensland Cowboys
Northern Pride RLFCBarlow Park Cairns 2007 1 (10) North Queensland Cowboys
Norths DevilsBishop Park Brisbane 1996 1 (98) Brisbane Broncos
Redcliffe DolphinsDolphin Oval Redcliffe 1996 5 (97, 00, 02, 03, 06) Brisbane Broncos
Souths Logan MagpiesBrandon Park
Davies ParkBrisbane
Logan1996 1 (08) 
Canberra Raiders
Sunshine Coast Sea EaglesStockland Park Sunshine Coast 2009 1 (09) None 
Tweed Heads SeagullsPiggabeen Sports Gold Coast 2003 1 (07) Gold Coast Titans
Wynnum Manly SeagullsKougari Oval Brisbane 1996 1 (11) Brisbane BroncosHistory of the Queensland Cup
The logo for the Channel Nine Cup
The logo for the Bundy Gold CupThe Brisbane Rugby League
From the early 1920s to the 1970s, the Brisbane Rugby League premiership was the premier competition in the state, and was a thriving success boasting big crowds and large, loyal supporter bases with the respective clubs. Like its NSW counterpart, the clubs were constant, with new teams rarely entering the competition. Traditionally, the clubs were Valleys, Brothers, Norths, Souths, Wests, Easts, Redcliffe and Wynnum-Manly. However, when poker machines were introduced in New South Wales, but not in the Bjelke-Peterson Queensland, the NSWRL's clubs were able to entice Queensland players south of the Tweed with the lure of more money.
This, combined with the admission of non-Sydney teams like the Canberra Raiders and Illawarra Steelers, saw the NSWRL competition during the 1980s begin to supersede the Brisbane competition in popularity and media coverage. Also, other sports were establishing national competitions, and by 1986 the admission of a Brisbane team into the NSWRL had become inevitable. Finally in 1988 both the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Giants gained entry.
Effect of the Brisbane Broncos on Rugby League in Queensland
Although the Broncos' signings of many great BRL players like Wally Lewis and Gene Miles got many Brisbanites behind the new team, there were severe ramifications on the local club scene. In the space of one season, the amount of coverage given to the competition in the three media forms dropped significantly, as did attendances at matches.
This had a severe flow on effect to the finances of many clubs, especially those in the inner-city whose demographics had changed significantly since the heyday of the BRL. Between 1988 and 1995 Valleys moved home 3 times, from Albion to the Tweed, back to Albion and finally to Caboolture, before eventually folding at the end of 1995. Other teams that suffered financial trouble and no longer play in the Queensland Cup include Valleys and Wests, while Souths and Logan merged in 2002 to form Souths-Logan.
The Beginning of the Queensland Cup
In 1996 the Queensland Cup began, replacing the Winfield State League, as new Federal Government Laws banned Cigarette companies from sponsoring sport. The Cup was initially branded the Channel Nine Cup, and to date, season 1996 was the most statewide competition in the Cup's history, with teams based in Cairns, Mackay, Bundaberg, Toowoomba, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast. In 1998 Channel Nine did not continue their sponsorship, and the competition became known as the Queensland Cup. In 2000, Bundaberg Rum began a two-year sponsorship of the competition and it was known as the Bundy Gold Cup.
2005 saw the announcement of Wizard Home Loans becoming naming-rights sponsor for the competition. It was known as the Queensland Wizard Cup until 2008. In 2010, Intrust Super were announced as the new major sponsor.
2007 - Loss of the Clydesdales
Main article: 2007 Queensland Cup SeasonAlthough the Queensland Rugby League had anticipated that the same teams from 2006 would participate in the 2007 Wizard Cup, it was announced on December 5, 2006 that the Toowoomba Clydesdales 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."[1] The following day it was announced that the Aspley Broncos would be replacing the Clydesdales, and acting as the Brisbane Broncos feeder club.[2] There is a possibility that an NRL team (possibly the Storm) may be based out of the Darling Downs (most likely Toowoomba) in the future but this has not been confirmed at this stage.
2008 - Northern Expansion
Logo of the Queensland Wizard CupMain article: 2008 Queensland Cup Season2008 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 the Aspley Broncos and North Queensland Young Guns as part of the rationalisation of rugby league below the NRL level caused by the introduction of the NRL under 20's competition.
The future
Shortly after signing a partnership with National Rugby League team the Manly Sea Eagles to develop rugby league on the Sunshine Coast,[3] the Sunshine Coast Falcons received approval for entry into the 2009 Queensland Cup from the Queensland Rugby League,[4] ultimately winning the premiership as the Sea Eagles in their first year. However, the future of the Sunshine Coast team, as well as the Souths Logan Magpies, is in jeopardy due to the NSWRL's insistence that Manly and Canberra must field their reserve-grade players in the NSW Cup competition from 2011.
The WA Reds and the PNG Bid Team may apply for the 2011 season as part of their plan to play in the NRL in 2012/13.[5]
The Competition
The Draw
The twelve teams play each other twice in a rotating roster running typically from the middle of March to the middle of August. This is known as the regular season. Unlike the National Rugby League, the Queensland Cup regular season is a true home-and-away format, in that each team plays every other team twice, once at home and once away.
The Rounds
Normally, there is a round each weekend, which involves six games. However, there are two split rounds in the season, where the round takes place over two weekends. This allows for representative games such as the City vs. Country fixture, as well as allowing more games to be shown on free-to-air television, on ABC-TV. Televised games kick off at 2pm on Saturdays.
Points and Ladder
The winner of each game per round is awarded two points on the League Ladder. If a game is drawn between the two teams, each team is awarded one point.
At the end of the regular season, the six teams with the highest point totals on the ladder qualify for the finals. In the event of two or more teams sharing the same competition points, the finishing order is decided by points differential i.e. points scored minus points conceded.
Finals Series
In 2009 the Queensland Cup introduced a six-team finals series (compared to five in previous years). The Grand Final is typically played in mid-September at its traditional home, Suncorp Stadium. Since 2007 the man-of-the-match in the grand final has received the Duncan Hall Medal.[6]
NRL Affiliation
The level of club rugby league in Queensland is of such a high standard that all clubs in the Queensland Wizard Cup have affiliation with a team in the Australian national competition the National Rugby League. This gives many young Queensland players the opportunity to be signed into the NRL. The following teams are affiliated with the listed NRL teams.
- Brisbane Broncos - Burleigh Bears, Redcliffe Dolphins, Wynnum-Manly Seagulls, Eastern Suburbs Tigers, Norths Devils, Central Comets
- North Queensland Cowboys - Mackay Cutters, Northern Pride
- Gold Coast Titans - Ipswich Jets, Tweed Heads Seagulls
- Canberra Raiders - Souths Logan Magpies
- Manly Sea Eagles - Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles
Media coverage
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
The match of the round is televised live on ABC Queensland at 2 pm (AEST) Saturdays, with the game being replayed nationally on ABC2 on Thursday nights at 11 pm (AEST). Fox Sports also shows a reply on Wednesday evenings.
Radio
In 2006, community broadcaster Bay FM began broadcasting Wynnum-Manly matches, and Wynnum won radio station Nova 106.9's "Club that Brisbane really really loves" award[citation needed].
Sponsorship
The competition has previously been named the Channel Nine Cup, Bundy Gold Cup and Queensland Wizard Cup, and is now known as the Intrust Super Cup.
Queensland Cup premiers
+ after extra time
Player of the year
Year Player Club 1996 Robbie Schmidt 
Cairns Cyclones1997 Alan Wieland 
Wests Panthers1998 Shane Perry 
Logan Scorpions1999 Michael Roberts 
Redcliffe Dolphins2000 Chris Lawler 
Ipswich Jets2001 Michael Roberts Redcliffe Dolphins2002 Scott Thorburn 
Easts Tigers2003 Denny Lambert 
Wynnum-Manly Seagulls2004 Jace Van Dijk 
Souths Logan Magpies2005 Ricky Bird Ipswich Jets2006 Brandon Costin Souths Logan Magpies2007 Shannon Walker 
Tweed Heads Seagulls2008 Nat Bowman 
Central Comets2009 Ian Lacey Ipswich Jets2010 Ryan Cullen Redcliffe Dolphins Source[7]
Queensland Cup records
Retrieved from http://www.qrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=qldcup-stats. Records are current to the end of the 2009 season.
Most games
LINDSAY, Troy (Red) 270
COBURN, Danny (Ips) 239
ROBERTS, Michael (Red) 221
BURKE, Danny (Bro/Red) 219
O'FLANAGAN, Shane (Wes/Bur) 210
Most points
PARFITT, Nick (Too/Bur) 1187
BOURKE, Greg (Cns/Bur/Wyn/Red) 1150
CRESSBROOK, Reggie (Tvl/Bur/Ips) 1089
RICHTERS, Damian (SC/Red) 1030
WILSHERE, John (Nor/Eas) 896
Most tries
PARFITT, Nick (Too/Bur) 101
EGGLESTONE, Heath (Cen) 99
CULLEN, Ryan (Cen/Red) 94
CRESSBROOK, Reggie (Tvl/Bur/Ips) 89
PERRY, Shane (Bro/Log/Red) 88
Most wins in succession
16 Burleigh 1998 R 16-1999 R 9
16 Nth Qld (18 undefeated) 2005 R 10 - 2006 R3
Most losses in succession
28 Logan 2001 R17 - 2002 R 22
Most points in a season
274 John Wilshere, Norths 1998
Most tries in a season
34 Daniel Kennedy, Burleigh 2002
Previous 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 are "representative" sides that either withdrew (in the case of the Central Queensland Capras, Mackay, Bundaberg, Gold Coast Vikings, etc.) or folded (Cairns Cyclones, Port Moresby Vipers, etc.).
Team Location Home Ground First year in
QLD CupLast year in
QLD CupQLD Cup
Premierships
Aspley BroncosBrisbane Bishop Park 2007 2007 Nil 
Brothers-ValleysBrisbane O'Callaghan Park 2004 2004 Nil 
Bundaberg GrizzliesBundaberg Salter Oval 1996 1998 Nil Cairns CyclonesCairns Barlow Park 1996 2000 Nil Central CaprasRockhampton Browne Park 1996 1997 Nil 
Gold Coast VikingsGold Coast Owen Park and Carrara Stadium 1998 1998 Nil Logan ScorpionsLogan City Meakin Park 1996 2002 Nil 
Mackay Sea EaglesMackay Mackay Junior Rugby League Ground 1996 1996 Nil 
North Queensland Young GunsTownsville Dairy Farmers Stadium 2002 2007 2005 
Past BrothersBrisbane Corbett Park, Crosby Park, Lang Park, ANZ Stadium 1996 1998 Nil 
Port Moresby VipersPort Moresby Lloyd Robson Oval 1996 1997 Nil Souths MagpiesBrisbane Davies Park 1996 2002 Nil 
Sunshine Coast FalconsSunshine Coast Quad Park 1996 1996 Nil 
Townsville StingersTownsville Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Sports Reserve 1998 1998 Nil 
Toowoomba ClydesdalesToowoomba Athletic Oval (Clive Berghofer Stadium) 1996 2006 1996, 2001 Wests PanthersBrisbane Purtell Park 1996 2003 Nil See also
- FOGS Cup and FOGS Colts Challenge
- Brisbane Rugby League premiership
- Queensland Rugby League
- Winfield State League
References
- ^ "Broncos lose stablemate Clydesdales". AAP. 6 December 2006. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20881575-23214,00.html.
- ^ Aspley new Brisbane Broncos feeder club : thewest.com.au
- ^ Manly to invest $1m in Coast league | thedaily.com.au
- ^ http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/jul/22/sunshine-coast-sea-eagles-big-business/
- ^ [1] WA Wins Bid for National Team: The Journey to the NRL Begins, WA Rugby League, Retrieved on 15 December 2006
- ^ Livermore, Ross (2007). "Australian Rugby Football League Annual Report 2007" (pdf). Australian Rugby League Limited. pp. 9. http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/files/ARL_2007_Annrep_1.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ Queensland Rugby League:: QRL.com.au
External links
Queensland Cup News
- Queensland Rugby League
- Queensland Rugby League Queensland Cup Page
- Rleague.com's Queensland page
- League Unlimited's Queensland Page
Queensland Rugby League forums
Rugby League in Queensland Federation Representative team Queensland MaroonsDivisions Main competitions Other competitions Police Services • Primary School • Secondary School • WomenDefunct competitions National Rugby League teams Queensland Cup teams
Former teamsBurleigh Bears • Central Comets • Eastern Suburbs Tigers • Ipswich Jets • Mackay Cutters • Northern Pride • Norths Devils • Redcliffe Dolphins • Souths Logan Magpies • Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles • Tweed Heads Seagulls • Wynnum Manly SeagullsQueensland Cup seasons Categories:- Queensland Cup
- Rugby league competitions in Queensland
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