South East Division Media Release
In a landmark move for the game’s future, the South East Queensland Division has today announced the new Brisbane Rugby League structure for the 2015 season.
The announcement follows confirmation that the FOGS A grade competition would not continue next year. In its place is a local league premiership, which will see the re-emergence of some iconic rugby league teams made famous through the glory days of the Brisbane Rugby League.
“The emergence of this competition is a further enhancement for second-tier rugby league,” QRL Managing Director Rob Moore said today.
“This decision comes on the back of the findings from the recent National Review. Our focus is on delivering sustainable pathways from Under sixes through to the NRL; and we believe this decision is a step in the right direction for participants.”
Moore praised the FOGS for supporting this competition over many years.
“The FOGS Cup has certainly benefited the game and has at times had 10 Intrust Super Cup clubs fielding teams in a very strong competition,” Moore said.
“However as local league premierships have strengthened, many Intrust Super Cup clubs have returned to support the game in their area.”
The South East Division with its Brisbane administration staff, and assistance from the QRL, has worked towards this outcome for several months. Applications were sought from interested clubs in the regions and meetings were staged to gauge the long-term viability of these interested groups.
From 13 expressions of intent, a total of nine teams have now been accepted by the Division to form the new competition. The five Intrust Super Cup clubs, to be supported by the BRL, proposed a structure where each will link with two clubs. Intrust Super Cup players will then be dual registered and placed with the nominated BRL team throughout the season.
These teams are:-
· Easts Juniors
· Carina (subject to meeting final conditions)
· Logan Brothers
· Normanby
· Valleys
· West Brisbane Panthers
· Gaters
· Redcliffe Juniors
· Wynnum Redland City
The Jets will next year field an Ipswich team in this competition, although it is expected that the club will work closely with the Ipswich Rugby League over the next 12 months to expand their support for that local league premiership.
South East Division Chairman Brad Tallon said the new competition marked an exciting time for the game in the area.
“This decision gives the game in Brisbane a real opportunity to reconsider both the junior and senior structures and also provide more clearly defined long term pathways for all of our players,” Tallon said.
“I believe the Intrust Super Cup clubs have taken a giant step and we acknowledge their vision to get this right.”
“This has been a great experience for the Division as some strong cases were presented for inclusion under a number of models. To have a club brand like Valleys come to us with their plan for the future was a bonus, and to offer an opportunity to great community clubs such as Logan Brothers and Carina adds another feature”.
“Then we found clubs like Normanby and Gaters had strong business plans with substantial financial resources based on their entry into this format. And the model presented by West Brisbane Panthers was another eye opener with regards to confirming a bright future for our game.
“The Division has just wrapped up another very successful rugby league season, but to be honest I cannot wait to see this new revamped BRL competition kick-off in 2015.”
Initial plans are for an 18 round home and away BRL premiership with a pre-season competition for all teams to launch this new format. The League also hopes to unveil a Naming Rights sponsor in the new year.
