Tweed Seagulls to get multi-million facilities upgrade, secures position in QRL league

The future is looking bright for the Tweed Seagulls after a long-awaited multimillion-dollar announcement. Here’s what’s in store for the much-loved club.

The future is looking bright for the Tweed Seagulls Rugby League Football Club after a long-awaited multimillion-dollar announcement to upgrade its rugby league grounds.

It’s expected the works will rectify flooding issues at the sports ground and new lighting will allow for matches to be streamed at night.

The announcement was accompanied by confirmation Seagulls has scored a new five-year participation licence to continue playing in the Queensland Rugby League (QRL).

On Thursday, Tweed MP Geoff Provest revealed more than $2.4 million in state government funding to expand the Piggabeen Sports Complex, home to the Tweed Seagulls - a well-known feeder club for the NRL.

The upgrade has been long-awaited. Picture: David Bonaddio

Stage 1 works are set to include upgrades to the entryway, new lighting for three sports fields, improvements to field surfaces, drainage, irrigation and a new playground.

Mr Provest said the facilities would be “first class” after the upgrade.

He said the work would get more children and members of the community “enjoying this magical game of NRL”.

Queensland Rugby League (QRL) director Darryl Van de Velde said the upgrade would help Seagulls create more pathways for up-and-coming players.

“The Tweed Seagulls have been a major part of the journey of many of those who have reached not only NRL, but State of Origin level in recent years,” he said.

“Due to the facilities upgrades the QRL have extended to the Tweed Seagulls a new five-year participation licence agreement, ensuring the facilities will be utilised to the benefit of the community of players pursuing an NRL or NRLW dream.”

The project will be managed by Tweed Shire Council, which owns the facility.

Construction will begin towards the end of the year, after the completion of the upcoming rugby league season.

Tom Weaver said the upgrades to the Piggabeen Sports Complex were massive for the Tweed Seagulls.

Titans halfback and Tweed product Tom Weaver said the new upgrades were massive for Seagulls.

“It’s a really big club here on the (North) coast,” Mr Weaver said.

“Last year we had a fair few floods and we weren’t able to play or train here … the upgrades are massive for the community”.

Tweed Seagulls player Brooke Saddler. Picture: David Bonaddio

Tweed Seagulls player Brooke Saddler said: “We were training out of Robina last season with the floods, we didn’t even get the opportunity to come to Tweed to train,”

She was looking forward to hitting the Tweed fields and said she “would definitely love to be seen playing in the NRLW for Titans” one day.

Siblings Kahu and Harmony Jacobs are excited about the upgrades coming to the Piggabean Sports Complex. Picture: David Bonaddio

Saddler was looking forward to “three new fields where the men and the women will be able to train together”.

Young Seagulls player Kahu Jacobs said: “I think it’s great as we haven’t had an update on the fields in a little while.”