Junior statewide competitions draws released for 2024
- Author
- Timestamp
The Queensland Rugby League has today released its statewide competition junior representative draws for aspirational male and female players in 2024.
As part of the restructured pathway announced in August this year, Queensland’s best young male talent will compete in the Cyril Connell Cup (Under 17) and Mal Meninga Cup (Under 19), and the state’s emerging female stars will play in the Harvey Norman Under 17s and Harvey Norman Under 19s.
The new under 17 girls competition kicks off on the weekend of February 10-11 and will be played across three pools, with players from 15 teams getting their first taste of rugby league under the QRL statewide competitions banner.
Fifteen teams will also compete in the Harvey Norman Under 19s across three pools, as players put their best foot forward for Queensland representative honours.
Teams will also have the added incentive of competing in the Under 19s finals series this year with play-off matches added to the 2024 schedule.
The introduction of finals matches in the Cyril Connell Cup will also raise the anticipation ahead of the season, which gets underway with Pool C matches in the south east corner on February 10-11.
The Mal Meninga Cup begins on the same weekend, where many eyes will be on the early performances of last season’s under 18 grand finalists.
The classy Redcliffe Dolphins beat the Townsville Blackhawks in the 2023 grand final, and the opportunity will now arise for some of those players to step up in the Under 19s competition.
Player of the match Rogers: 'I've never won a grand final before'
The Dolphins are drawn to play the Brisbane Tigers in Round 1, while the Blackhawks meet the Central Queensland Capras.
In what is already shaping as a fascinating finish to the regular season, the Blackhawks are drawn to play the Dolphins in Round 11.
The opening seven weeks of the Mal Meninga Cup will be played in a pool format, before crossover fixtures commence in Round 8 leading a top six semi-finals series.
For the Mal Meninga Cup draw, click here.
For the Harvey Norman Under 19 draw, click here.
For the Cyril Connell Cup draw, click here.
For the Harvey Norman Under 17 draw, click here.
