QLD Premier Rugby 2026

[LevitatingSocks]

Certain sections at South’s undermining people!! How dare you

This has been the play book for a few years now… what/who is the common denominator? Don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to work it out… But all is well up at Chipsy Wood.

My personal view is that reflexively churning personnel for the sake of it without giving things time to stabilise is bad. Comes off like the organisational equivalent of a drowning man flailing in the water.

5th in the comp without a full preseason or control over recruitment isn't a result that justifies being let go in my (outsider) opinion.

 

[Ras]

With results on the field to be the ultimate determinate of success - How do we think souths will finish next year?

IMO 5/6th dependent on a bounce back year for the students? Doesn't seem like the worlds falling in as much as we're letting on here.

That being said you could throw a napkin over the bottom four teams last year

 

[PhilClinton]

Am hearing a flutter that Pup McCormack may not return to the Filth next year, or at least he hasn't fully committed at this stage.

Young family and a potential sea change down to Northern NSW for lifestyle reasons.

Personally, I reckon he will be back for at least 2026 but who knows.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

With results on the field to be the ultimate determinate of success - How do we think souths will finish next year?

IMO 5/6th dependent on a bounce back year for the students? Doesn't seem like the worlds falling in as much as we're letting on here.

That being said you could throw a napkin over the bottom four teams last year
View attachment 23517

Bond and Brothers make finals. Rest of the comp is a fight in a phone booth given the close finishes last year and some minor regression at Easts and Wests + improvement from the rest. Too early to say more.

 

[Elwee's Loo]

With results on the field to be the ultimate determinate of success - How do we think souths will finish next year?

IMO 5/6th dependent on a bounce back year for the students? Doesn't seem like the worlds falling in as much as we're letting on here.

That being said you could throw a napkin over the bottom four teams last year
View attachment 23517

Interesting fact, from 6th to 9th all head coaches have moved on except Dan Ritchie.

 

[PhilClinton]

Interesting fact, from 6th to 9th all head coaches have moved on except Dan Ritchie.

And in that regard, Norths have still probably made one of the bigger signing moves bringing in Phil Mooney as DOR to support the club.

 

[PhilClinton]

Nothing official yet from UQ about their coach? The McKay news was being leaked a few weeks ago now.

 

[Elwee's Loo]

And in that regard, Norths have still probably made one of the bigger signing moves bringing in Phil Mooney as DOR to support the club.

I think that and the Matt Cockbain signing's have been the bigger moves. If Jim Mckay is to coach UQ that would also be right up there.

 

[Quicktapsonly]

Nothing official yet from UQ about their coach? The McKay news was being leaked a few weeks ago now.

Noosa are advertising for a new HC. You’d suspect he has moved on and looking for the next opportunity.

 

[Jets]

Club legend Bruce Brown's recent passing might be taking up a lot of the time at UQ. You'd expect an announcement in coming weeks or they might find players will look elsewhere for opportunities.

Vale Bruce Brown: Life in the Front-row for Wallabies, Queensland and UQ Rugby

qld.rugby

 

[Heavensgame]

Nothing official yet from UQ about their coach? The McKay news was being leaked a few weeks ago now.

Miles and Damo moved on

 

[PhilClinton]

Miles and Damo moved on

Yep that was reported a while ago now.

Posters here were saying Jim McKay locked in but nothing has been announced was my point.

 

[hdnmstsnr]

If Keith Urban were a rugby player, say for the Caboolture Snakes or another say Bond, what position would he play and why?

10 or 15. The ONLY position for pretty boys.

 

[hdnmstsnr]

People attuned to rugby rate Bond Rugby Club and what they're doing for players on the Gold Coast. But at the end of the day they're joined at the hip with a tin can educational institution that will sell a degree to the highest bidder and that will always affect perception by the less informed.

A solid set of points there. However, there is a key difference - pointed out by Heeno during his speech at Bond's awards night - in that there is good, solid support for the club in the higher echelons of the university. Unlike UQ, Bond's heaviest rugby advocates are within those echelons. Tim Brailsford is one such advocate. He lives and breathes the game and is always on hand in a support capacity - for the club and for individual players.

People attuned to rugby do indeed rate Bond players. Unfortunately, many of them are based across the Tasman, in Europe or in Japan. The club accepts that and focuses on what success for the individual might look like. Gold Coast pathways via Bond are certainly stronger with APC and state high schools - as well as key local clubs - providing several strings of upcoming talent to supplement those already in place.

The new interest in Bond from players usually aligned to other QPR clubs will bolster those ranks, but will be balanced by the usual season-to-season attrition rate. I have had a glimpse of the player 'wishlist', and it is exciting....however, it is way too early to opine on the entirety of that list as only 6 names are in bold.

.. I'd LOVE to see Keith Urban at fullback.

 

[Elwee's Loo]

10 or 15. The ONLY position for pretty boys.

I think he'd be a bird watching winger who would play with a headband.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

A solid set of points there. However, there is a key difference - pointed out by Heeno during his speech at Bond's awards night - in that there is good, solid support for the club in the higher echelons of the university. Unlike UQ, Bond's heaviest rugby advocates are within those echelons. Tim Brailsford is one such advocate. He lives and breathes the game and is always on hand in a support capacity - for the club and for individual players.

People attuned to rugby do indeed rate Bond players. Unfortunately, many of them are based across the Tasman, in Europe or in Japan. The club accepts that and focuses on what success for the individual might look like. Gold Coast pathways via Bond are certainly stronger with APC and state high schools - as well as key local clubs - providing several strings of upcoming talent to supplement those already in place.

The new interest in Bond from players usually aligned to other QPR clubs will bolster those ranks, but will be balanced by the usual season-to-season attrition rate. I have had a glimpse of the player 'wishlist', and it is exciting....however, it is way too early to opine on the entirety of that list as only 6 names are in bold.

.. I'd LOVE to see Keith Urban at fullback.

I agree that the support is more substantial, but it's not out of pure altruism. Frankly it's good for the reputation of Bond University if they're associated with sporting success and the brand needs burnishing.

It's why Bond University is quite liberal with scholarship offers to elite athletes across all sports.

UQ (the university end) is the 200 kg economic and academic gorilla in the room and thus doesn't need UQ rugby. They frankly see the rugby club as a headache that limits revenue generation from its fields. They are more concerned with climbing the global university ranks and that requires money from international students, the government, and research funding. Having the Doughty Shield and Hospital Cup inside the club house doesn't carry weight for any of those entities.

 

[hdnmstsnr]

I agree that the support is more substantial, but it's not out of pure altruism. Frankly it's good for the reputation of Bond University if they're associated with sporting success and the brand needs burnishing.

It's why Bond University is quite liberal with scholarship offers to elite athletes across all sports.

UQ (the university end) is the 200 kg economic and academic gorilla in the room and thus doesn't need UQ rugby. They frankly see the rugby club as a headache that limits revenue generation from its fields. They are more concerned with climbing the global university ranks and that requires money from international students, the government, and research funding. Having the Doughty Shield and Hospital Cup inside the club house doesn't carry weight for any of those entities.

It's good to see that my observations on Heeno's speech regarding UQ's sense of disinterest in the club is echoed by your response.

However, as the parent of a state and national representative player who unsuccessfully applied for a scholarship and still studied at Bond, I can attest that scholarship offers are not as liberal as many might surmise. But there ARE individuals outside of the scholarship environs who are happy to ante up and pay privately for players - and students in general - to study.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

It's good to see that my observations on Heeno's speech regarding UQ's sense of disinterest in the club is echoed by your response.

However, as the parent of a state and national representative player who unsuccessfully applied for a scholarship and still studied at Bond, I can attest that scholarship offers are not as liberal as many might surmise. But there ARE individuals outside of the scholarship environs who are happy to ante up and pay privately for players - and students in general - to study.

Back when the university did their rebrand to jacaranda-esque purple they asked all their affiliated sporting clubs to switch from the traditional maroon/red to the new colour. Most capitulated. UQ Rugby told the university to kick rocks and there's still some lingering animosity over the matter along with newly instituted requirements to pay for field use like outside entities do.