Statewide score wrap: Gayndah's community connection winning new fans, and players

Gayndah Gladiators kicked off their season with a derby win, but they've got the bigger picture in mind helping young players develop confidence through engagement with local schools.

The 2023 Central Burnett Rugby League premiers had 30-22 win at home over Mundubbera on Saturday in front of a strong crowd.

Gladiators coach Matt Ulcoq said it was a tough game with plenty of skill and passion between the two rivals.

"It was getting really close but we snuck away with one try late and got the win," he said.

"It means a lot to both teams and there was a lot of passion and a lot of emotion out there. We're so close (geographically) sometimes we have boys from Mundubbera playing for us and the other way around and that adds a little more spice to it.

"It was good to see the players from both sides mingling with the crowd after the game and have a beer and the crowd telling the boys how much they love watching them play footy and lot of skilful players from these towns and both sides had a really good crack."

Despite the rivalries, Ulcoq said the club was making strides in bringing the community together through rugby league, providing a social occasion for long-time locals and overseas workers from all over the world, including a growing Islander population, forming "an important part of this competition and community".

One initiative bringing great pride to the club and coach is their involvement in local schools in the hope of ensuring future generations aspire to the green-and-gold.

Ulcoq said it was a highlight to see boys grow in confidence so much so several turned up to preseason.

"I do like to have a bit to do with the schoolboys. Our secretary is a teacher, and I've always been really big on the juniors. I go and see the schoolboys and encourage them to come and train with the A grade boys," he said. 

"I've actually got three players signed on who are still at school and one who finished last year played representative footy.

"We also go to primary schools every year for a meet and greet... so it's good to see the juniors and show them a pathway to senior footy.

"The thing with our side out here, for a lot of the young men out here there's not heaps of work, a lot are leaving to go to the mines or find trades in bigger towns, so we always lose a handful every season, so it's important we're gaining a new handful each year and we seem to be pretty sustainable doing that

"It retains our culture and a winning mentality they learn from when they're young."

On the field, while going back-to-back in the grand final is always the goal, although one piece of silverware has eluded them for too long.

"We're always looking to make that grand final, and we are pretty good in the big games, but we would really like to win back the Citrus Cup this year against Mundubbera," Ulcoq said.

The Cup is a midseason trophy the two teams will battle for on June 22.

Gayndah will enjoy a bye week next round before facing Eidsvold Eagles.

QRL Central region

Titan Industries Central Burnett Competition

Round 1 results

Gayndah Gladiators 30 def Mundubbera Tigers 22

Monto Roos 74 def Eidsvold Eagles 8

Ladder

Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 2 results

Warwick Cowboys 38 def Wattles Warriors 14

Dalby Diehards 46 def Toowoomba Brothers 18

Pittsworth Danes 24 drew with Southern Suburbs Tigers 24

Goondiwindi Boars 24 drew with Highfields Eagles 24

Gatton Hawks 22 def Valleys Roosters 8

Oakey Bears 32 def Newtown Lions 24

Ladder

Toowoomba Sports Club Toowoomba Rugby League Women's A grade

Round 2 results

Toowoomba Brothers 36 def Dalby Diehards 4

Gatton Hawks 16 def Valleys Roosters 12

Newtown Lions 30 def Oakey Bears 16

Ladder

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 2 results

Coolum Colts 30 def Beerwah Bulldogs 16

Caloundra Sharks 22 drew with Kawana Dolphins 22

Noosa Pirates 26 def Stanley River Wolves 12

Caboolture Snakes 20 def Nambour Crushers 12

Ladder

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Open Women

Round 4 results

Maroochydore Swans 30 def Caloundra Sharks 6

Kawana Dolphins 26 def Noosa Pirates 18

Caboolture Snakes def Beerwah Bulldogs (forfeit)

Ladder

Roma District Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 1 results

Mitchell Magpies 24 def Taroom-Wandoan Battlers 6

Miles Devils 22 def Chinchilla Bulldogs 10

Wallumbilla-Surat Red Bulls 24 def Roma Cities 10

Ladder

Intersport Yeppoon Rockhampton Rugby League Women's Premiership

Round 2 results

Norths Chargers def Yeppoon Seagulls (forfeit)

Emu Park Emus 40 def Wallaby Gladstone 4

Fitzroy-Gracemere Sharks 30 def Tannum Sands Seagulls 24

Brothers Rockhampton 30 def Valleys Gladstone 16

Ladder

Rockhampton Rugby League Men's A grade Premiership

Round 2 results

Norths Chargers 36 def Yeppoon Seagulls 20

Emu Park Emus 38 def Gladstone Brothers 24

Brothers Rockhampton 32 def Valleys Gladstone 10

Ladder

Northern Districts Rugby League Men's Competition

Round 2 results

Gladstone Wallabys 22 def Calliope Roosters 18

Miriam Vale Magpies 38 def Avondale Tigers 12

South Kolan Sharks 38 def Agnes Water Marlins 6

Ladder

Wellshot Hotel Central West Rugby League Men's Competition

Round 2 results

Blackall Magpies 44 def Alpha Brumbies 18

Longreach-Ilfracombe Tigers 34 def Winton-Diamantina Devils 24

Ladder

Central Highlands Rugby League Emerald Industrial Supplies Men's A grade Competition

Round 2 results

Middlemount Panthers 44 def Bluff Rabbitohs 8

Emerald Brothers 42 def Springsure Mountain Men 20

Peak Downs Pirates 44 def Blackwater Crushers 18

Dysart Bulls 30 def Emerald Tigers 28

Ladder

Central Highlands Rugby League Sentinel Group Women's Competition

Round 2 results

Bluff Rabbitohs 36 def Middlemount Panthers 6

Emerald Tigers 30 def Dysart Bulls 6

Ladder

Bundaberg Broadcasters BRL Men's A grade 

Round 1 results

Past Brothers 64 def Hervey Bay Seagulls 6

Wallaroos 38 def Easts Magpies 24

Waves Tigers 22 def Wests Panthers 16

Ladder

QRL South East region

Brisbane Rugby League Premier A grade

Round 2 results

Carina Tigers 30 def Souths Juniors 28

Valleys Diehards 28 def Beenleigh Pride 22

Redcliffe Juniors 38 def Brighton Roosters 22

Bulimba Bulldogs 60 def Normanby Hounds 4

West Brisbane Panthers 42 def Wynnum Manly Juniors 16

Ladder

Ipswich Jets A Grade Cup

Round 2 results

Brothers Ipswich 94 def Swifts 6

Ipswich Jets 38 def Redbank Plains Bears 18

West End Bulldogs 24 drew with Norths Tigers 24

Ladder

QRL North region

FNQRL Men's A grade

Round 4 results

Innisfail Leprechauns 44 def Mareeba Gladiators 6

Atherton Roosters 26 def Ivanhoes Knights 10

Cairns Brothers 50 def Cairns Kangaroos 12

Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 42 def Southern Suburbs Cockatoos 20

Edmonton Storm 54 def Tully Tigers 16

Ladder

FNQRL Women's

Round 4 results

Atherton Roosters 22 def Ivanhoes Maidens 20

Cairns Kangaroos 58 def Yarrabah Seahawks 0

Ladder

Mount Isa Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Wanderers 42 def Mount Isa Brothers 16

Ladder

Rugby League Mackay & District NQBE Men's A grade 

Round 1 results

Souths Sharks 56 def Whitsunday Brahmans 4

Moranbah Miners 56 def Carltons Devils 12

Mackay Magpies 26 def Sarina Crocodiles 20

Mackay Brothers 54 def Wests Tigers 18

Ladder

Rugby League Townsville & District Men's A grade

Round 2 results

Herbert River Crushers 18 def Charters Towers Miners 10

Western Lions 32 def Centrals Tigers 8

Souths Bulls 40 def Burdekin Roosters 22

Ladder

Rugby League Townsville & District Women

Round 2 results

Herbert River Crushers 22 def Charters Towers Miners 6

Centrals Tigers 16 def Western Lions 8

Ladder