Queensland Rugby League releases statement on status of Edmonton Storm Rugby League Club

An embattled Far North Queensland rugby league club has accused the Queensland Rugby League of “systemic discrimination and racism” after being banned from playing at the weekend. SEE THE LATEST

Far North Queensland Rugby League club Edmonton Storm logo.

An embattled Far North Queensland rugby league club has accused the Queensland Rugby League of “systemic discrimination and racism” after being banned from playing at the weekend.

The Edmonton Storm received a participation ban from the QRL last week due to alleged non-compliance with the terms of its affiliation with the statewide governing body.

The ban applies to the club’s teams playing in the FNQ Rugby League’s A-grade, reserves and under-19s competitions.

In a bombshell statement, Storm president Sarah Addo said the club had been “victimised” by the QRL, adding the Storm had allegedly been subjected to “bullying” and “bias” in numerous dealings with the league.

“The QRL has given no natural justice to the Edmonton Storm Senior Rugby League Club in response to its imposed participation ban on the club,” the statement read.

“Furthermore, the club has been victimised by the QRL actions all year such as player registrations, not clearing players, unjustified referee reports and their actions that placed Edmonton in bias situations.

“Some reports about player violations that were proven false via video evidence still resulted in hefty suspensions on players who were first timers to face the judiciary tribunal and ending up with a six-game suspension for their first offence in 20 years of playing rugby league.”

The club further accused the QRL of “moving the goalposts” as far as the club’s financial reporting obligations.

In an email obtained by this masthead, the QRL’s General Manager of Community Rugby League stated that the club had been banned from participation “in accordance with Clause 12.2 of its 2025 Affiliation Agreement with the QRL.”

“Before the QRL will consider lifting the participation ban, the following financial documents must be submitted in full,” the email read.

The email went on to state that before the Storm would be eligible to return to the field, it had to supply a profit and loss statement, balance sheet, general ledger and an operational projected budget outlining the club’s financial capacity to continue its activities and meet all current and future financial obligations.

The Storm argued six days was “far too short” of a timeframe to respond to the email, and that the club felt they “met their financial obligation to the QRL with its 2024 Audit Report.”

“We have made QRL aware on numerous occasions that they are not our ‘regulatory body’, we have stated each time they demand information from our club that the Office of Fair Trading is our regulatory body and not the QRL,” it read.

“This in our opinion is where the systemic discrimination and racism comes in as it highlights the potential problems that can occur if natural justice is not followed in a disciplinary process.

“The QRL wishing to inspect the Edmonton Storm bank accounts and other financial statement is a breach of the privacy act as we are our own entity.”

The QRL has been contacted for comment.

Read the full statement from Edmonton below.

Earlier

The QRL confirmed it imposed a participation ban on the Edmonton Storm’s senior teams.

The ban, which applies to the Storm teams playing in the FNQ Rugby League’s senior, reserves and under-19 competitions, has resulted from the club’s alleged non-compliance with the terms of its affiliation with the QRL.

A QRL spokesman said in a statement “the QRL has been supporting the Edmonton Storm over the past four weeks to meet the terms and conditions of their affiliation to the QRL.”

“The Edmonton Storm have had a participation ban imposed as the club was unable to provide critical information in respect to their affiliation terms,” the statement said,

“The QRL does not make this decision lightly; however we make no apologies for ensuring good governance practices are upheld.

“The QRL would like to see the participation ban lifted as soon as possible and will continue to support the club to do so.”

The latest revelations come as the turmoil surrounding the Storm’s 2025 FNQRL season reached new heights, with the club forfeiting both of the weekend’s senior fixtures.

The FNQRL confirmed via Facebook on Friday the Storm would not be fronting up to play their fixture against Suburbs on Saturday.

The revelations came as uncertainty grows around the viability of Edmonton at the senior level.

Just last week the club was forced to forfeit its A-grade fixture against Atherton Roosters, with coach Frank Crathern describing it as “the hardest decision (he) ever had to make.”

FNQRL operations manager Dee Harris said after the announcement of the first forfeit that the league would “continue to work with the club quite closely” with the Storm as it tries to rebuild into the future.

“It’s obviously a bit concerning when you’ve got an A-grade club that needs to forfeit,” she said.

Originally published as Queensland Rugby League releases statement on status of Edmonton Storm Rugby League Club