The Gold Coast Vikings will be sailing back to the Coast with two XXXX Chair’s Challenge trophies safely in their looting hands after a win in the men’s and women’s challenge in 2024.
The premier A grade women in South East Queensland came together for the first time to contest the Women’s XXXX Chair’s Challenge and the quality of rugby league throughout the weekend showed the growth of the game in South East Queensland.
The Gold Coast Vikings finished on top of the table with one win against Brisbane and a close loss to Ipswich.
Gold Coast coach Jordan Dwyer is impressed with the XXXX Chair’s Challenge and the what it provided his young crew.
“It’s been great to be in camp and watch the girl’s bond and develop friendships,” Dwyer said.
“We were scrappy at times but the girls haven’t played a lot of football together.
“A lot of our team are young and come from other backgrounds like touch football so this is the first time they have been in camp.
“It’s been a great weekend.”
Dwyer was also impressed by several of his players.
“Jaimie Phillips was great for us all weekend," he added.
“She is just starting to understand the defence side of the game.
“We want to win but the development of these girls and progress is also very important.
“I think we have achieved that - we have improved from yesterday to today.”
A big part of that development and improvement was seen in outside back Shanarlii Peckham.
Gold Coast were serviced well in the try scoring from Peckham who finished with three tries against Ipswich on Sunday and five for the weekend with another two against Brisbane on Saturday.
The Gold Coast completed the double as their men's side won two games over the weekend.
The Vikings started with a win on Saturday over a physical Ipswich 38-18 and finished the weekend with a win over Brisbane Red 14-10 on Sunday.
Vikings coach Stuart Wilkins was proud of his team's efforts.
“That last 20 minutes of the game against Brisbane Red is as good 20 minutes you will see,” Wilkins said.
“We spoke about not worrying about points just winning games and I think we block out a lot of noise and just won like a football team should.
“It’s great for the Gold Coast and winning the double is great for the region.
“I thought the Scott brothers were great and I made them co-captains for a reason.
“We defended our line, we gave away penalties and we kept turning up on our line and winning.”
QRL South East region
Men’s XXXX Chair’s Challenge
Round One
Brisbane Red 22 Brisbane White 12
Gold Coast Vikings 38 Ipswich Diggers 18
Round Two
Gold Coast Vikings 14 Brisbane Red 10
Brisbane White 40 Ipswich Diggers 20
Women’s XXXX Chair’s Challenge
Round One
Brisbane Poinsettias 32 Ipswich Diggers 18
Round Two
RLGC Vikings 36 Brisbane Poinsettias 28
Round Three
Ipswich Diggers 26 RLGC Vikings 22
QRL Central region
Central Highlands Rugby League Emerald Industrial Supplies Men’s A Grade.
Round 12 Results
Bluff Rabbitohs 42 def Peak Down Pirates 14
Clermont Bears 36 def Emerald Tigers 26
Springsure Mountain Men 38 def Blackwater Crushers 28
Middlemount Panthers 28 def Dysart Bulls 20
Central Highlands Rugby League Emerald Industrial Supplies Women’s A Grade.
Dysart Bulls 48 def Middlemount Pink Panthers 12
Bundaberg Broadcasters Men’s A Grade Premiership
Waves Tigers 24 def Past Brothers 20
West Panthers 40 East Magpies 12
Central West Rugby League Wellshot Hotel Senior Men's Competition
Blackhall Magpies 26 def Barcaldine Sandgoannas 14
Northern Districts Rugby League Men’s A Grade Results
Isis Devils 52 def Calliope Roosters 4
Gladstone Wallabys 38 def South Kolan Sharks 26
Agnes Water Marlins 58 def Avondale Tigers 32
Rockhampton Men’s A Grade Results
Rocky Brothers 36 def Emu Park 16
Yeppoon 24 Gladstone Brothers 24
Rockhampton Women’s A Grade results
Fitzroy/Gracemere 50 def Norths Women’s 6
Tannum Sands 32 def Valleys Women 8
Emu Park 30 def Rocky Brothers Women’s 4
Roma District Rugby League Men’s
Cities A 64 def Chinchilla 4
Wallumbilla Surat 26 def Miles 22
Sunshine Coast Gympie A Grade Men’s A Grade
Beerwah 20 def Maroochydore 12
Coolum 18 def Caloundra 16
Kawana 22 def Stanley River 12
Sunshine Coast A Grade Women’s Competition
Kawana 26 def Maroochydore 20
Caboolture 38 def Caloundra 10
South Burnett Men’s A Grade
Murgon 38 def Kingaroy 36
Cherbourg 28 def Nanango 22
Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchinson Builders Men’s A grade
Gatton 70 def Oakey Bears 6
Dalby 36 def Goondiwindi 34
Wattles 62 def Brothers 12
Toowoomba Valleys 56 def Sothern Suburbs 22
Warwick 48 def Highlands 6
Toowoomba Rugby League Toowoomba Sports Club Women’s A grade
Newtown 22 def Highfields 6
Toowoomba Valleys 30 def Southern Suburbs 4
Brothers 32 def Dalby 8
Border Rugby League Men’s A Grade
Macintyre 28 def Texas 26
Stanthorpe 42 def Inglewood 28
QRL North Region
FNQRL Men’s A Grade
Atherton 40 def Southern Suburbs 10
Innisfail 32 def Mossman 4
Mareeba 46 def Tully Tigers 20
Cairns Brothers 32 def Edmonton 16
Yarrabah 38 def Ivanhoe 34
FNQRL Women’s A Grade
Kangaroo 44 def Atherton 10
Mount Isa Men’s A Grade
Brothers 36 def Wanderers 30
Mount Isa Women’s A Grade
Wranglers 28 def Cloncurry Eagles 4
*Ladder unavailable
Rugby League Mackay & District NQBE Men's A grade
Wests Tigers 42 def Brothers 18
Rugby League Mackay & District QOHS Women's A grade
Mackay Brothers 22 def Brothers 4
Rugby League Townsville & District Men's A grade
Charters Towers 31 def Norths 24
Western Lions 18 def Burdekin 18
Brothers 14 def Herbert River 12
Souths 54 def Centrals 20
Rugby League Townsville & District Open Women
Charters Towers 22 def Norths 4
Western Lions 30 def Burdekin 4
Brothers 26 def Herbert River 0
Zenadth Kes Rugby League Island Rooster Cup Men's Competition
Mulga Tigers 42 def Roosters 34
Suburbs 32 Pioneer Knights 26
*Ladder unavailable