Cover Photo: Yeppoon Seagulls, 2023 Rockhampton League Premiers

Tallon Smith

With finals already here or fast approaching in most competitions across the country, we thought it’s about time we checked in with our neighbours to the north.

Some competitions have already concluded, some are kicking off their finals action this weekend, while others have a few rounds to play.

Without further ado, let’s take a look league by league at how things are shaping up in the Sunshine State.

Border Rugby League

The Stanthorpe Gremlins have dominated the three-team competition in 2025, going a perfect eight from eight through the regular season.

Returning to the competition after a year out, Tenterfield won three of their four matches against Inglewood to finish second, with the two sides to clash again in the Preliminary Final this weekend.

Final Ladder: Stanthorpe 16pts, Tenterfield 6, Inglewood 2.

Bundaberg

Defending premiers and perennial powerhouse Waves Tigers wrapped up the Minor Premiership with a 42-16 final round win over Hervey Bay.

Last year’s runners up Past Brothers finished second, while Maryborough Wallaroos and Hervey Bay round out the top four.

Easts Magpies and Wests Panthers are the unlucky sides to miss the finals, which begin this weekend.

Final Ladder: Waves 27pts, Brothers 25, Maryborough Wallaroos 13, Hervey Bay 13, Easts 10, Wests 0.

Cairns

The Far North Queensland Rugby League A Grade competition is again led by the Brothers club in 2025, who sit in first with a 14-1 record through 17 rounds.

Next up on the table are the Atherton Roosters, the only team to beat Brothers this season in a 42-32 shootout in round six.

Southern Suburbs, Mossman-Port Douglas and Cairns Kangaroos round out the top five at present, though with Ivanhoe and Tully hot on their heels, Roos’ spot will go on the line in the final round this weekend when they face a must-win clash with Brothers.

Tully also face a stern test when they host Atherton, while Ivanhoe go in favourites to steal fifth position when they tackle winless Edmonton.

Ladder: Cairns Brothers 32pts, Atherton 28, Southern Suburbs 26, Mossman-Port Douglas 21, Cairns Kangaroos 19, Ivanhoe 19, Tully 18, Mareeba 15, Yarrabah 14, Innisfail 12, Edmonton 0.

Central Burnett

Semi Final action kicks off this weekend in the Central Burnett Rugby League, and again it is the Gayndah Gladiators who will host the first week after finishing on top of the table.

Biggenden will face them for a Grand Final spot after an impressive return to footy this year, while Mundubbera and Monto will battle for survival in the Minor Semi.

Final Ladder: Gayndah 26pts, Biggenden 25, Mundubbera 21, Monto 12, Eidsvold 6.

Central Highlands

In a total opposite of the NRL, it’s the Rabbitohs who finished the season as Minor Premiers in the CHRL, with Bluff narrowly beating out Middlemount for the title.

Finals kick off this weekend for the top four, with the two aforementioned teams battling for a spot in the Grand Final, while Emerald Brothers and Blackwater will battle for the right to stay alive in the Minor Semi Final.

Final Ladder: Bluff 26pts, Middlemount 26, Emerald Brothers 22, Blackwater 21, Emerald Tigers 19, Springsure 14, Clermont 10, Peak Downs 6.

Central West

The Barcaldine Sandgoannas have already secured the silverware in the Central West Rugby League with a 28-22 win over the Longreach-Ilfracombe Tigers in the Grand Final on June 28.

The win is the Sandgoannas’ second title in four years, after 17-year-old captain-coach and Battler of the Year Mannix Hunt led the team to victory in 2022.

Grand Final: Barcaldine 28 defeated Longreach-Ilfracombe 22.

Mackay

The Moranbah Miners hold a points differential lead over Souths Sharks in a star-studded Mackay League through 14 rounds.

Former Rabbitoh and Tiger Chris McQueen helped the Miners to a 28-22 win over Kane Linnett’s Sarina Crocodiles on the weekend, while Ben Barba and Manu Ma’u’s Sharks are looking to steal top spot when they come off the bye to face Wests on Saturday night.

With Brothers and Magpies also offering credible competition on their day, the finals series in the Mackay District is shaping as a great one this year.

Ladder: Moranbah 25pts, Souths 25, Brothers 22, Magpies 16, Wests 10, Sarina 8, Whitsunday 6.

Mount Isa

WIth only two teams battling on in the “Oasis of the Outback” in 2025, the QRL set up a five-game regular season before a Grand Final in mid-June.

The Townies got the better of the regular season clashes, but it was Wanderers who had the last laugh, securing a 32-22 win in the Grand Final at Alec Inch Oval on June 22.

Grand Final: Wanderers 32 defeated Townies 22.

Northern Districts

Perennial powerhouse Isis Devils have wrapped up the Minor Premiership in the Northern Districts competition by three games.

The Childers-based outfit will now host South Kolan for a spot in the Grand Final, while Miriam Vale and Avondale will battle for survival in the Minor Semi Final.

Final Ladder: Isis Devils 28pts, South Kolan 22, Miriam Vale 16, Avondale 16, Gin Gin 14, Calliope 10, Agnes Water 4.

Rockhampton

Rockhampton Brothers have emerged as Minor Premiers in the Rockhampton Senior Local Rugby League A-Grade competition, beating out defending premiers Emu Park by three points for the crown.

Powerhouse side Yeppoon Seagulls, the only team to have beaten Brothers this year, finished in third, while Norths Chargers and Valleys Gladstone rounded out the top five.

Gladstone Brothers, Tannum Sands and Fitzroy-Gracemere were the three unlucky sides to miss the finals in the second year of the combined Central Queensland competition.

The top five finals series began last weekend, with Emu Park beating Yeppoon 26-20 in a rematch of the last two Grand Finals, while Norths eliminated Gladstone representatives Valleys 34-12.

Week two of finals this weekend will see Brothers take on Emu Park for a Grand Final spot in the Major Semi Final, while Yeppoon will face Norths in a sudden-death showdown.

Final Ladder: Rockhampton Brothers 25pts, Emu Park 22, Yeppoon 20, Norths 16, Valleys Gladstone 12, Gladstone Brothers 10, Tannum Sands 4, Fitzroy-Gracemere 1.

Roma District

Roma Cities Gladiators have sewn up the 2025 Roma A Grade Minor Premiership by a whopping four and a half games over the St George Dragons courtesy of a 12-2 regular season.

As a result, the Gladiators and Dragons will get a week off before facing off in the Major Semi Final next weekend.

In the interim, newcomers Jandowae take on Wallumbilla-Surat in this weekend’s Minor Semi.

Final Ladder: Cities 48pts, St George 30, Jandowae 30, Wallumbilla-Surat 28, Taroom-Wandoan 24, Chinchilla 24, Mitchell 20, Miles 20.

South Burnett

The Cherbourg Hornets have secured the 2025 South Burnett A Grade Minor Premiership after amassing an impressive 9-2-1 record through the regular season.

The Kingaroy Red Ants will face them in the Major Semi Final after securing second place, while Wondai-Proston and Murgon qualify for finals football automatically in the four-team competition.

Final Ladder: Cherbourg 19pts, Kingaroy 14, Wondai-Proston 8, Murgon 5

Sunshine Coast

Stanley River lead the way after winning 13 of their 14 games so far this season, including a 68-4 thrashing of Nambour.

Maroochydore, Coolum, Noosa an Kawana round out a highly competitive top five.

Ladder: Stanley River 60pts, Maroochydore 50, Coolum 44, Noosa 42, Kawana 36, Beerwah 32, Caloundra 26, Nambour 2, Caboolture 6.

Toowoomba

The Gatton Hawks hold a handy five-point lead with three rounds remaining in the Toowoomba Rugby League A Grade premiership.

A win at home over Warwick will sew up the Minor Premiership for the Hawks, who are yet to drop a game in 2025.

Wattles and Brothers remain tied for second, Goondiwindi, Warwick, Valleys, Pittsworth and Dalby all remain in contention for the final places in the playoffs.

An interesting three weeks of regular season footy remain.

Ladder: Gatton 25pts, Wattles 20, Brothers 20, Goondiwindi 15, Warwick 14, Valleys 14, Pittsworth 12, Dalby 11, Oakey 6, Highfields 5, Souths 4.

Townsville

Defending premiers Souths Bulls lead the way in Townsville after a flawless season so far in 2025.

Awaiting this weekend is a top of the table clash with second-placed Brothers, where a win will sew up the Minor Premiership for the Bulls.

Herbert River have already secured their spot in the playoffs, while fourth-placed Western Lions remain vulnerable to a challenge from all four sides below them in an extremely close bottom half of the table.

Ladder: Souths 30pts, Brothers 25, Herbert River 20, Western Lions 14, Charters Towers 12, Burdekin 12, North Thuringowa 11, Centrals 10.

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