NRL 2025: Brisbane Broncos target Gold Coast as a growth area amid south east Queensland battle for fans

The Broncos aren’t content with being the kings of Brisbane, with the club set to embark on a south east Queensland pre-season blitz amid an ongoing turf war.

GOLD COAST Brisbane Broncos player Reece Walsh meeting fans at the Burleigh Bears season launch. Pizzey Park, Miami. Photo: Zak Simmonds.

The Broncos are ramping up their Gold Coast invasion with the $75 million NRL powerhouse embarking on a south east Queensland blitz ahead of the 2025 Premiership.

The Michael Maguire era of the Broncos will kick off with a string of appearances in the region as Brisbane looks to build on its 60,000-strong membership base.

The Broncos are capitalising on a lack of local exposure for M1 rivals the Titans by holding a trial match and fan day on the Gold Coast.

Maguire’s first Broncos team will play a trial against Hostplus Cup club the Burleigh Bears at Pizzey Park on Saturday week.

The Broncos will also host a fan day and the majority of Brisbane’s top squad – including Gold Coast locals Pat Carrigan, Ben Hunt and Reece Walsh – is expected to be in attendance despite mostly second-stringers playing in the trial.

The Broncos will then head west for their first NRL Pre-season Challenge trial against the Titans in Toowoomba on February 16 before facing the Bulldogs at Redcliffe on February 22.

The Broncos are looking to expand their fanbase by targeting south east Queensland. Picture: Zak Simmonds.

Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said the club was excited about playing across the south east Queensland region.

“We are going to be in south east Queensland for the three weeks of the trials which is amazing,” he said.

“We’ve got the game at Burleigh, game in Toowoomba and game at Redcliffe against the Bulldogs.

“There is a real south east Queensland blitz that gives us a chance to get out and connect with our fans before the season starts.”

Pat Carrigan is a Gold Coast local, pictured here with a local nipper. Picture: Luke Marsden

The Titans have been close to anonymous this pre-season as they attempt to fly under the radar.

They have been back at training under coach Des Hasler for nearly four weeks since the Christmas break and are yet to hold a media opportunity with an NRL player.

In contrast, the Broncos, Dolphins and Cowboys have been holding at least one media call a week during pre-season training with the trials looming.

Ezra Mam training at the Burleigh Bears. Picture: Zak Simmonds.

The Titans have also opted not to play a trial match against either of their feeder clubs – Tweed Heads or Ipswich. They lost Gold Coast powerhouse Burleigh to the Broncos last year.

The Titans will face the Broncos in the first week of the NRL Pre-season Challenge and then the Dolphins at Redcliffe.

The Titans have been flying under the radar this pre-season. Picture: Supplied by Gold Coast Titans.

Given they have a bye in round 1 of the NRL season, and are away to Canterbury in week two, the Titans will not be seen on the Gold Coast until round 3 against the Knights on March 22.

With a booming population of 650,000, the Gold Coast is the Broncos’ second-largest market in Queensland outside of Brisbane and they have traditionally enjoyed strong support in the region.

The Broncos usually play their feeder club trial match at Wynnum-Manly, but Donaghy said a new agreement meant they were rotating it between Burleigh and Souths-Logan in the coming years.

“We’ve got three feeder clubs and when we renewed the agreements, through conversations with the clubs we decided it was time to share the trial match around,” he said.

“We can take a game out into the local rugby league community and give back but also spread it out. Our affiliates are amazing.

“It’s Burleigh’s turn this year. They’ve been a great partner of ours over the last 12 months and we’re very excited to go down there for a game and also a fan day.

“It’s a great opportunity for people to have that real close connection to everyone in and around the club.

“When we go to the Gold Coast to play the Titans we have a really big supporter base so I’m sure there’ll be a lot of Broncos fans turning out for the trial.”