2023 Queensland Cup

The 2023 Queensland Cup season was the 28th season of Queensland's top-level statewide rugby league competition run by the Queensland Rugby League. The competition, known as the Hostplus Cup due to sponsorship, features 15 teams playing a 26-week long season (including finals) from March to September. The Brisbane Tigers won the competition for the first time in their history, defeating minor premiers Burleigh Bears in the Grand Final on 17 September.

Teams

In 2023, the line-up of teams changed for the first time in 8 years with the addition of the Western Clydesdales. The North Queensland Cowboys changed their affiliation agreement, with the Cowboys sending all NRL contracted players not selected in their weekly squad to just the Townsville Blackhawks.

On 15 June, the Brisbane Broncos annulled their affiliation agreement with the Norths Devils after the Devils announcement that they had signed a four-year affiliation agreement with the Dolphins from 1 November 2023 ahead of the 2024 season. In response to the news, the Brisbane Broncos would remove their players from the Devils for the remainder of the season.

Regular season

Fixtures

Results

Season summary

*The Round 1 match between Redcliffe Dolphins and Brisbane Tigers was abandoned after four minutes due to torrential rain. Due to a number of factors, the match was not able to be replayed. The final result was given as a 0–0 draw, with each team awarded a competition point.
*In the days following the announcement of the changes to their NRL affiliation, the Norths Devils won a stunning 23–22 victory over the Redcliffe Dolphins after trailing 22–6 at half time, for their first win away to the Dolphins in over a decade. The victory was notable as the Devils played without any full time players after the Brisbane Broncos removed their players from the Devils line-up after the affiliation announcement.
* On 28 July, the Townsville Blackhawks parted ways with head coach Aaron Payne, who had been in the role since 2018.
*Round 18 was the competition's annual country round, with matches played across regional Queensland in Wondai, Biloela, Miles, Kilcoy, Weipa, Prosperpine and Stanthorpe.
*After suffering a 72–8 loss in round 21, the Ipswich Jets would end the season without a victory to become the first winless team in the competition since 2004. The 72–8 scoreline the biggest ever win in the competition for the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
*In the final round of the regular season, Burleigh Bears secured their second straight minor premiership with their 20–12 win over the Townsville Blackhawks. Burleigh snatching the title from the Souths Logan Magpies who stumbled to a 18–14 loss to the Central Queensland Capras. In a virtual elimination final, the Sunshine Coast Falcons defeated the Tweed Seagulls 37–12 to jump over the Seagulls into the finals. Norths Devils stalwart Jack Ahearn played his final Queensland Cup game, guiding the Devils to a 40–30 win at Bishop Park against the PNG Hunters. Melbourne Storm forward Alec MacDonald won the Paul Green Memorial Day medal in the Brisbane Tigers 41–20 win over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

Ladder

Ladder progression

* Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top eight.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
* Underlined numbers indicate that the team had a bye during that round.

Final series

Summary

* Week One – Qualifying finals: Brisbane Tigers came from 10–6 down at half time to run over the top of the Souths Logan Magpies to progress to the preliminary final. A last minute intercept try to Max Lehmann extending the final score to 34–26. The Burleigh Bears played what coach Luke Burt called their best half for the season, taking a 14–12 half time lead to defeat the Central Queensland Capras 38–12 to book their passage through to the preliminary final.
* Week One – Elimination finals: The Sunshine Coast Falcons upset the Redcliffe Dolphins 42–36 in a thrilling contest. The Falcons had jumped out to a 34–6 half time lead, but a second half comeback from the Dolphins saw the home team close at the finish against a Falcons team struggling with injuries. In the final match of week one, the Wynnum Manly Seagulls advanced to the semi finals after getting over the Northern Pride 15–14. The match entered golden point after scores were level at 14–all at the end of 80 minutes. Seagulls Josh Rogers scoring the winning field goal in the second half of extra-time.
* Week Two – Semi finals: With both teams missing a number of player who had been called up by the Brisbane Broncos, Wynnum Manly Seagulls jumped out to a 12–0 lead early in their elimination semi final against Souths Logan Magpies. The Magpies would level the scores at 24–all in the 63rd minute, but a converted late try to Stanford Talita would secure the victory for the Seagulls 30–24. In the other semi final, the Central Queensland Capras advanced to the preliminary final for the first time in 14 years, comfortably defeating the Sunshine Coast Falcons 38–10. The Falcons were missing all their Melbourne Storm affiliate players, after the Storm had rested a bunch of players in their final NRL match of the regular season.
* Week Three – Preliminary finals: The Burleigh Bears were the first team to qualify for the Grand Final, dominating the Wynnum Manly Seagulls to win 57–8. The Bears kept the Seagulls scoreless in the first half, running away with the match in the second half. In the other preliminary final, the Brisbane Tigers qualified for their first Grand Final since 2018, claiming a gritty 14–6 win over the Central Queensland Capras. Kane Bradley scoring the match-sealing try in the 71st minute after scores were close at 8–6 from half time.

Bracket

Grand Final

First half

Brisbane Tigers scored the first try of the match in the 13th minute when prop forward Tristan Powell stepped through the Burleigh Bears defence after receiving the ball 10 metres out from the tryline. Powell able to shake off would-be tacklers to plant the ball over the line close to the posts. Tigers halfback Jonah Pezet added the two point conversion goal to take the Tigers to a 6–0 lead. With 13 minutes left until half time, the Bears were able to make a break down their right flank, with a passing move finding winger Tony Francis to score in the corner. Keano Kini's footwork and flick pass unlocking the Tigers defence. A few minutes later, an attempted 40–20 kick from Burleigh halfback Guy Hamilton caught out Brisbane fullback Corey Thompson, with Thompson's attempt to keep the ball in play landing directly in the hands of Francis who crossed for his second try.

Trailing 8–6 after the try, Pezet put a high kick up with six minutes left in the half in the direction of the Bears tryline and teammate Kane Bradley was able to out-jump Keano Kini to score the Tigers second try, with Pezet's conversion taking the score to 12–8.

Second half

Jonah Pezet would extend the Tigers lead just after the break through a penalty goal, and then against the run of play, Max Lehmann ran nearly the length of the field after taking an intercept pass from Guy Hamilton. Lehmann able to outrun Keano Kini to take the score to 20–8. With just over 20 minutes to play, Hamilton has able to set up a try for Bears captain Sami Sauiluma to score, bringing the margin back to six points. Two dangerous tackles from Tigers hooker Tristan Hope saw him put on report, and Bears forward Vaka Sikahele taken off on the medicab. Sikahele looked to have suffered a dislocated patella in the second incident.

A few minutes later Tony Francis scored his third try of the match after a fortuitous bounce. With Tyrone Roberts unable to convert the try from out wide, the Tigers still held a slender 20–18 lead. Francis should have scored a fourth try in the 74th minute, but he failed to ground the ball over the line in the corner.

Pezet would again add to the Tigers score with two points coming from his boot after referee Tyson Brough awarded the Tigers a penalty with four minutes left.

In a frantic finish, the Tigers were able to hold out the Bears in the final minutes, with Jordan Grant sent to the sin-bin in the final seconds before full time.

Burleigh fullback Keano Kini won the Duncan Hall Medal as player of the match, but the premiership went to the Tigers with first-year coach Matt Church quoted as saying "Just so proud of the group. If someone told me 12 months ago this could've been a possibility, I wouldn't have believed them. I'm choking back tears now. It means so much... our long-suffering fans, it's been 32 years."

NRL State Championship

As premiers of the Queensland Cup, the Brisbane Tigers faced NSW Cup premiers the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL State Championship.

QRL awards

* Petero Civoniceva Medal (Best and Fairest): Trai Fuller ( Redcliffe Dolphins)
* Coach of the Year: Karmichael Hunt ( Souths Logan Magpies)
* Rookie of the Year: Morea Morea ( Papua New Guinea Hunters)
*Duncan Hall Medal (Grand Final player of the match): Keano Kini ( Burleigh Bears)

Team of the Year

See also

* Queensland Cup
* Queensland Rugby League

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Queensland Cup season 2023
2023 in Australian rugby league
Queensland Cup