O’Hanlon appointed to QRL Board

Experienced sports administrator Matt O’Hanlon will embrace the opportunity to continue his outstanding service to rugby league in Queensland next year following his appointment to the Queensland Rugby League Board.

“I’m looking forward to making a contribution to a sport I’ve been very fond of for as long as I can remember,” O’Hanlon said.

“I can’t remember life without rugby league. My dad coached in Rockhampton, was a life member of Brothers in Rockhampton, as was his father.

“We were brought up on the stories of the great players … Duncan Hall and Rod Reddy, to name a few.”

As a vastly experienced educator, the highly-respected teacher and school principal has worked in Atherton, Blackwater, Bundaberg, Mackay and Rockhampton, before settling at Beenleigh State High School in 2009.

Each tenure formed another chapter in his rugby league journey, as O’Hanlon and his family immersed themselves in community rugby league.

From playing and coaching, to refereeing and running clubs and local leagues, O’Hanlon has filled just about every position possible.

It’s that experience that has made him a trusted voice on the South East council over the past three and a half years.

Now based on the Gold Coast, O’Hanlon is looking forward to commencing in his role as the new QRL South East chairperson, a position previously held by new QRL chair Brian Canavan.

“Matt’s experience covers many areas of our game and he meets all listed criteria and standards of a region Council chair and QRL Board member,” Canavan said.

“As a 20-year school principal, Matt has extensive experience in terms of strategic planning and development, initiation of programs and working with our youth.

“And he’s also a diehard Queenslander who loves and understands the history of the game from his time playing in competitions like the Foley Shield and 47th Battalion.”

As he prepares to head up South East next year and beyond, O’Hanlon said his focus was to help make the region’s three leagues as “strong and prosperous as they can be”.

O’Hanlon has served in numerous sports administration roles, chairing the Capricornia School Sport Board (2000-2009), Queensland School Sport Management Group (2010-2019) and South Coast School Sport (2016-2022).

He has also served as a board member of Queensland School Sport (2012-2020) and School Sport Australia (2013-2020).

In 2021, he received the Education Queensland Jack Pizzey Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership.