QRL’s Hostplus Cup heads to Stanthorpe for country week’s round 18 game

Stanthorpe’s Sullivan Oval will host the round 18 Country Week game of Queensland Rugby League’s 2023 Hostplus Cup, with thousands set to attend. READ MORE HERE.

The annual QRL Hostplus Cup will enter its country week round 18 games and will see Stanthorpe host the televised event against the Western Clydesdales and Townsville Blackhawks on Sunday, July 16.

Playing on the home ground of the Stanthorpe Gremlins Rugby League Club, this will be the first time in eight years the club has played host to the QRL event, the first time since the 2015 Intrust Cup fixture which saw the Burleigh Bears beat the Sunshine Coast Falcons 18-16.

Stanthorpe Rugby League Club president Roger O’Brien said the club was hoping to attract around 1000 spectators to watch the teams go head-to-head, with both the junior and senior Border League teams holding their own games over the same weekend.

Western Clydesdales players Brock Dimmett (left) and Cory McGrady. Picture: Kevin Farmer.

Mr O’Brien said both of the clubs’ junior and senior teams have been tracking well this season.

“We’re very excited to be hosting the event the same weekend as our home games,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Both our ladies and men's senior teams will play against Texas on the Sunday and our junior league teams will play against Goondiwindi on the Saturday.”

Stanthorpe’s senior ladies team will kickstart the event at Sullivan Oval with their opening game to start at 11.15am, followed by the senior mens team at 12.30pm, with the televised main event at 2.10pm.

The Townsville Blackhawks are currently sitting at 11th on the QRL Hostplus ladder, with the Western Clydesdales in hot pursuit sitting at 13th.

Tickets for the event are still available here.