History-making, premiership-winning and glory-hunting clubs named Gold Coast’s greatest of 2023
They made history, brought home silverware and lived up to the Gold Coast’s sporting name in 2023. From dozens of clubs across every code, these 10 have earned themselves a spot on our list of the region’s greatest. See more inside:
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They made history, brought home silverware and lived up to the Gold Coast’s sporting name in 2023.
It’s time we revealed the best of the best: 10 clubs picked from dozens across every code, highlighting Gold Coast’s cream of the crop.
From Junior State Age netball to local first grade rugby union, see who made the cut and why.
1 - Hockey: Hockey Burleigh
Burleigh Hockey Club is home of current Hockeyroo Rosie Malone and Jillaroo Camryn Mathison among a large number of other Qld talented athletes. This year, the club made history by taking out gold in all four women’s divisions. Already running out premiers in the 2023 Open Girls, U14 Boys, U12 Hybrid (mixed) and Men’s. Division 3 competitions, Hockey Burleigh (aka The Wave) had their sights firmly set on the quadrella in the women’s league. Hockey Burleigh also stamped their dominance in the regional intercity competition between all clubs in the Gold Coast and Ipswich associations, winning in both the men’s and women’s finals.
2 - Netball: Gold Coast Titans
Round three featured an overdue overthrow of the Brisbane North Cougars HSS reign. The side, which has long been known as a feeder club to the Queensland Firebirds, had not lost a game in over two years before taking the court against the Gold Coast Titans. It was a sea-sawing match which ultimately ended with the Titans winning 63-58. The club went on to finish third in the comp after an upset loss in the preliminary final. The Titans’ U16 Nissan State Titles team claimed bronze in September.
3 - Netball: Hinterland Districts
Hinterland Districts Netball Association carved up at the 2023 Junior State Age in May, taking home the U12, U13 Challenge and U14 Challenge and U14 Championships divisions. The association didn’t stop there, going on to be named overall Champion Association and receiving the Performance Award to recognise the best performing Association in relation to the number of registered players. The feat is made even more impressive by the fact over 200 teams competed.
4 - Aussie Rules: Palm Beach Currumbin Men
It is hard to go past Palm Beach Currumbin as the best AFL side on the Gold Coast. Despite their seniors side not making finals in the QAFL in 2023, a rare miss for the club of its stature, the club’s colts finished top of the ladder only to go down in the grand final. They have been the most successful Gold Coast club, including three of the four players drafted to the Gold Coast Suns in the 2024 AFL draft.
5 - Aussie Rules: Bond University Women
The most successful women’s team in the QAFLW this season, both league and reserves competitions. Bond University Bull sharks claimed premierships across both grades. Their stocks will only get stronger as they look to continue to grow and develop and repeat the success of 2023 in 2024.
6 - Rugby Union: Nerang Bulls
The Nerang Bulls first grade side fell short of making the grand final for a second year in a row, going down to the eventual champions in their preliminary final. However the club still had plenty to celebrate in 2023. They were victorious in the second and third grades, as well as the Under 18s.
7 - Basketball: Gold Coast Rollers
The Gold Coast Rollers Women finished the season top-four but were defeated by the Logan Thunder 66-62 in their quarter final. The Rollers men had more success in 2023 while chasing a back-to-back title. Despite going into the grand final series on a lengthy winning streak, Gold Coast narrowly lost the series 2-1 to Ipswich Force. A loss was not the end goal, but in a competition stretching from Tweed, Queensland to Darwin, NT, it certainly deserves an ovation. Gold Coast are no doubt eager to bet back on court for 2024 and will return with two strong teams once again.
8 - Rugby League: Currumbin Eagles
Arguably the the best Gold Coast Rugby League club in 2023. Despite not winning the A grade competition, Currumbin finished third in A-grade, under 16’s Div 2, fifth in Under 18’s Div 2 and runner-ups in under 20’s but the highlight for the club was becoming premiers in A-grade reserves, under-16’s Div 1 and under 18’s Div 1.
9 - Cricket: Helensvale Cricket Club
The 2022/23 premiers have started the premiership defence off in almost the best way possible. They won’t play in the one day cup final but all of their senior grades sit among the top four teams of the respective competition’s. They have shown glimpses of the premiership team they were in 22/23 and will look to continue the form heading into the back end of the season.
10 - Football: Gold Coast Knights
Everything went right for the Gold Coast Knights F.C in season 2023 both on and off the field. They won the NPL competition, Scott McDonald won the Coach of the Year, Austin Ludwik named Player of the Year and made history becoming the first team to win the Treble in Queensland.
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