Women have 2020 goal

League officials eye female Coast competition

THE Gold Coast could have its own women’s rugby league competition up and running by 2020 after nearly a dozen clubs expressed interest in fielding senior teams next season.

In 2018, six Coast clubs competed across three South East Queensland divisions, with Burleigh winning the premier title for the fourth straight year.

The women’s game has taken off in the past 12 months, headlined by a maiden officially branded State of Origin contest in June followed by the inaugural NRL Women’s Premiership.

That progress at the elite level has filtered down to the grassroots, with interest in participation skyrocketing from both players and clubs.

The Bulletin understands Beaudesert, Bilambil, Burleigh, Coolangatta, Jimboomba, Mudgeeraba, Ormeau, Robina, Runaway Bay, Southport and Tweed Heads have all indicated their desire to enter a women’s team in 2019 – though it’s unlikely all 11 will proceed.

Rugby League Gold Coast manager Scott Dunshea has ruled out a Gold Coast competition for next year but believes it could be on the cards for the following season.

“There is a lot of interest but the sustainability factor is the key,” he said. “In areas in Brisbane and Ipswich, certain clubs will pop up one year and disappear the next … we don’t want that. So it’s getting some structure around that and trying to get a pathway for the girls.

“We may be in a position in 2020 to run our own competition down here. That is a possibility but again it needs sustainability and the clubs need to be invested in the girls’ game.

“The clubs that do that well, and historically it’s been proven in Brisbane, they retain those girls year in, year out.

“We have got an information night on Monday for all clubs that have expressed an interest. There are some criteria that clubs need to meet now so the board and the division will look at how many clubs are sustainable for the Coast at this time. “That might be six, that might be eight. We’ll see what transpires.”

Dunshea noted it was important to funnel focus into female junior competitions to support ambitions at the senior and elite levels.

A gala day will be on next Friday for under-6s to 12s, with a concept to potentially start Wednesday or Friday nights competition for those ages.