The Grapple: 29 August

Big program this evening followed by Motor Torque at 7pm –all the latest NRL news, games analysis- Robbo- 7/8 last week- rest left in your wake-chat with Nathan Mclean- QRL Ops Manager SC as we preview the SCGJRL Grand Finals on Saturday at Bribie- over 12 clubs, and 15 games in what will be a massive day and of course Macca joins us at 6.40 where we’ll chat about the Newcastle Knight farcical coaching situation, the English Super League Challenge Cup Final won by Warrington over Leeds 18-4 last weekend, biggest story of the week- who’s in line for the end of season nudie run and then preview NRL round 24-the penultimate round for 2019 –let’s not let the important stories get in the way of some comic relief-hopefully Shane Moon isn’t in line for the run!!

So let’s get started with local rl and the SCGRFL grand finals from last weekend at the SC Stadium- 4 great games, nearly 4,000 rl people at the ground during the day and impeccable refereeing-wins to Stanley River 28-16 over Caboolture in Vantage Homes Div. 1 Cup, Coolum 20-16 over Beerwah in Div. 2A, Beachmere 26-4 over Kilcoy in Div. 2B and Kawana 34-0 over Beachmere in WINTV U/18 Cup-of course Maroochydore won the women’s title a few weeks earlier

ISC: Round 21: 1 game to go

• Wins to Blackhawks, Devils, Pride by 2 over Tigers, Seagulls, Dolphins, Jets and Falcons 20 d Bears 14 with the runaway competition leaders holding off a spirited Bears who lost three players to serious injuries during the course of play in a brutal display of finals standard rugby league. Siti Moceidreke scored twice and the boot of Todd Murphy was key as the Falcons secured their 21st win of the season.

Ladder

Games this weekend:

Tigers/Blackhawks, Tweed/Pride, Dolphins/Cutters, Capras/Bears, Falcons/Jets, Wynnum/Devils and Magpies/Hunters

Brisbane RL:

Round 19: Dolphins 30 d Seagulls 26, Panthers 28 d Tigers 24 and Diehards 30 d Magpies 28

Ladder

Also their last round this weekend with Tigers/Seagulls, Dolphins/Diehards and Panthers/Magpies as Dolphins need to beat Diehards and hope Seagulls lose to make the semis.

Ladder in Reserve Grade- looks like semi-finalists settled

Opportune to chat about the future of the Brisbane A-grade competition as it was announced last Tuesday that it is set to expand to 10 teams in 2020, with a new model seeing many local clubs make their return to A Grade.

Intrust Super Cup clubs will withdraw their direct team presence and will instead formalise their affiliate relationships with community teams in an effort to expand the competition and create more opportunities for players at the local level.

New entrants will include local clubs like Carina, Brighton and Beenleigh Pride, while established Rugby League Brisbane clubs such as Valleys Diehards and West Brisbane Panthers will remain.

An affiliate agreement will be formalised between the clubs which will include restrictions on player numbers to be signed by the Intrust Super Cup clubs.

These Intrust Super Cup squad players will be distributed to the nominated affiliate clubs to ensure fairness, equality and a high standard of competition.

A Grade confirmed clubs 2020

• Carina                         Wynnum Juniors                    Bulimba
• Beenleigh                    Normanby                               Brighton
• Pine Rivers                 West Brisbane                                    Valleys

Rugby League news:

NRL round 23 and ladder

Jersey day tomorrow: JERSEY DAY is all about promoting awareness of The Organ and Tissue Authority and the DONATE LIFE network. Schools and workplaces across Australia asked if students and employees can wear their favourite sporting jersey to school or work tomorrow to show their support for the DONATE LIFE network and begin the conversation with their friends and families about Organ Donation.

JERSEY DAY has been inspired by the story of NATHAN GREMMO who was tragically lost in an accident in May 2015. Nathan’s family chose to give the gift of life to others to honour the legacy of Nathan’s generous personality.

This campaign is all about raising awareness – there is no requirement to raise funds. Simply wear your favourite sporting jersey to school or work on Friday August 30, 2019 and begin the conversation with your friends and family about organ donation.

QRL managing director Robert Moore announced during the week the three state winners of the prestigious NRL Community Awards, praised the efforts of all volunteers throughout the state. Winners were:

• • Volunteer of the Year – Bevan Owens (Normanton Stingers)
  • Women in League Award – Sharon Hickey (Pine Central Holy Spirit RLFC)
  • Club of the Year – Atherton Roosters (Cairns District Rugby League)

Intrust Super Cup grand final day will this year feature an expanded program of five exciting games across junior, youth and senior levels on Sept 29

Free Family Fun Zone including face painting, food trucks and more; from 9am next to Ticket Gate 2

Canterbury's impressive end to the season continues, this time on the recruiting front, with the news that hooker Apisai Koroisau is reportedly set to sign a three-year bumper deal with the club, starting in the 2020 season. Koroisau will apparently depart Manly, after being told that the emergence of young gun Manase Fainu meant his services would no longer be required after this season. The Bulldogs are understood to have beaten the New Zealand Warriors and the Parramatta Eels who were also bidding to pinch Koroisau from Sydney's Northern Beaches. Koroisau's signing is a major coup for the Bulldogs who have also signed Melbourne's Joe Stimson and South Sydney's Dean Britt for 2020.

Pressure may be mounting on Darius Boyd to retire but the Brisbane skipper says he is "oblivious" to critics ahead of his NRL team's finals tilt. Boyd has been slammed this year after what some experts feel is an ill-fated shift from fullback to five-eighth for the Broncos in 2019. There is even a campaign for 314-gamer Boyd to end his reported $800,000-a-year deal two seasons early in 2019, to free up salary cap money to re-sign the likes of young guns David Fifita and Kotoni Staggs. But Boyd, 32, reckons he is going nowhere. Now of course speculation that David Fifita is set to snub interest from rival clubs — including a $4 million deal to join the Eels — and re-sign with the club. Reported that the club have begun the process to tie up the Queensland Origin star, who will be free to negotiate with other NRL sides from November 1. The Eels along with the Warriors were seen as frontrunners for Fifita’s signature. Experts are saying though that the Broncos need a key playmaker to steer them around the paddock with Gorden Tallis claiming that the Broncos are like a Formula One Ferrari without a driver.

Brisbane Broncos will ramp up preparations for their Holden Women's Premiership defence with a trial match against the Papua New Guinea Orchids in Port Moresby On Saturday. The reigning champions will field a new-look squad for the 2019 season but have managed to keep a strong core group led by the likes of Ali Brigginshaw, Chelsea Baker and Stephanie Hancock. Broncos coach Kelvin Wright has named a squad of 22 but several players remain in the rehabilitation group as they make their way back from injury. The team will travel around Port Moresby and conduct community skills clinics as part of their three-day tour beginning tomorrow.

Nathan:

Massive day for Sunshine Coast Junior Rugby League Grand Finals next Saturday, 31 August with all the Junior Grand Finals being held at Bernie Roley Oval, 146 First Avenue Bribie Island from 8.30am onwards- over 12 clubs and 15 games- huge

Sunshine Coast Gympie Junior Rugby League: 2019 Grand Finals

Boys Under 16 Division 1: Kawana v Nambour                               5.00pm

Boys Under 16 Division 2: Bribie v Beerwah                                   3.40pm

Girls Under 16: Kawana/Caloundra/Beerwah v Caboolture             2.20pm

Boys Under 15 Division 1: Kawana Maroon v Caboolture               1.00pm

Boys Under 15 Division 2: Coolum v Palmwoods/Nambour           3.40pm

Boys Under 14 Division 1: Caloundra Gold v Caboolture Black     11.40am

Boys Under 14 Division 2: Caboolture Yellow v Bribie Island        2.20pm

Girls Under14: Gympie v Kawana/Caloundra/Beerwah                   10.20am

Boys Under 13 Division 1: Gympie v Maroochydore                       9.00am

Boys Under 13 Division 2: Caloundra Black v Bribie                      1.00pm

Under 12’s:

Pool A: Caloundra Black v Caloundra Gold                                      8.30am

Pool B: Stanley River v Maroochydore White                                  9.25am

Pool C: Noosa v Kawana Grey                                                           10.20am

Pool D: Nambour v Gympie Blue                                                      11.15am

Pool E: Caboolture Yellow v Caboolture Black                                12.10pm

Macca: Newcastle, English Challenge Cup, nudie runs and NRL round 24 previews