NRL, AFL, netball: Four blockbuster fixtures headline historic Queensland Day celebrations
Queensland premier David Crisafulli has engineered a sporting extravaganza that will see the NRL, AFL and netball join forces to light up Queensland Day in 2026.
NRL premiers the Broncos and AFL kings the Lions will spearhead a three-code, four-game blockbuster in a history-making occasion to celebrate Queensland Day in the Sunshine State.
This masthead can reveal Queensland premier David Crisafulli has engineered a sporting extravaganza that will see the NRL, AFL and netball join forces to light up Queensland Day in 2026.
More than five million Queenslanders will be rewarded with an unrivalled sporting feast on June 6 next year when the three codes combine to deliver four games on a day of celebration for the Sunshine State.
The date marks Queensland’s separation from NSW in 1859 and birth as an independent colony and 167 years later, Crisafulli has conjured a sporting mega-event following high-powered negotiations with the NRL, AFL and Netball Australia.
AFL premiers Brisbane Lions will kick-off Queensland Day with a QClash blockbuster against the Gold Coast Suns at 1.15pm at People First Stadium.
Six hours later, the sporting party will continue with the Queensland Firebirds taking on the Sunshine Coast Lightning at Nissan Arena.
But the centrepiece is a rugby league double header involving the NRL’s four Queensland sides the Titans, Dolphins, Cowboys and Broncos, who broke their 19-year premiership drought this year.
The Cowboys and Dolphins will clash at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium at 5.30pm, before the Queensland Day sporting spectacular ends with the Broncos hosting the Titans in the M1 derby at Suncorp at 7.30pm.
Crisafulli, a passionate Cowboys fan, wanted major sporting events to beef-up Queensland Day festivities and the premier has delivered with an unprecedented cross-code spectacular.
“After a year where we have delivered a lot on the sporting field, now it’s time for the celebration,” the premier said.
“Queensland Day June 6, get ready for it, clashes right across the board.
“The Broncos and the Titans at Suncorp, the Cowboys and the Dolphins up in Townsville, the Firebirds and the Lightning in the netball in Brisbane and the Lions taking on the Suns, it’s all part of Queensland Day.
“I want to thank the NRL, the AFL and Netball league for heeding our calls.
“I said we would make Queensland Day something special. We love our sport in Queensland, what better way to celebrate being a Queenslander than watching your favourite footy team.
“Go you good thing ... this is going to be massive.”
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said the NRL, which released its 2026 season draw on Friday, couldn’t resist the impassioned cries of Crisafulli.
“We work with our government partners to take advantage of unique opportunities and optimise the draw for fans,” he said.
“Derbies are really special to fans and clubs, and to be able to schedule the four Queensland clubs on a special day for Queensland made perfect sense to us.
“The Queensland premier is also hard to say no to - especially when he stands up for Queensland and shirt-fronts you.”
Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy said the NRL’s richest club is honoured to headline Queensland Day.
“What an event and what a day it will be on June 6,” he said.
“It’s an absolute honour to be part of Queensland Day next year.
“The Broncos are such a big part of the sporting fabric of Queensland and we are so fortunate to live in the greatest state in the country and the best place in the world.
“We know how footy mad Queenslanders are, so to be part of the Queensland Day celebrations by playing our local rivals on the Gold Coast, I’m sure there will be a full house at Suncorp Stadium to get into the spirit.
“I’m a proud Queenslander myself. There’s no place like Queensland. We are fortunate in this NRL caper to travel and see other parts of Australia and other parts of the world, but there is nothing better than coming home.”
The Broncos have embarked on an NRL trophy tour of the Sunshine State in recent weeks and Donaghy said Brisbane players have been blown away by the support of Queenslanders.
“It was really important to us,” Donaghy said.
“Our sponsors Kia helped take the trophy around the state. We are the Broncos in Brisbane but we acknowledge we have many fans across the state.
“Without the support of so many Queenslanders, especially through the finals series, we wouldn’t have been able to win the premiership without our members and fans.
“We felt it was important to recognise the fans with this trophy tour. We’ve gone to schools and reached tens of thousands of fans and we could reach one million over the next few weeks.
“The Broncos are the people’s team and to be part of Queensland Day will be another historic moment for this club.”
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