Breaking down big picture plans for Rugby League Gold Coast as new boss is named

A new man has taken the reigns at Rugby League Gold Coast with big plans for the growth of the game, while the association’s outgoing stalwart has revealed several other items are on the agenda.

Rugby League has been in Matthew Bradford’s blood for life, and now the new Gold Coast chairman of the code has outlined his plan to ensure the next generation reap the benefits the game has to offer.

With standing Rugby League Gold Coast chair Peter Daley stepping aside from his role citing it was “time for a break”, Bradford has taken the reigns with the aim of ensuring the juniors and rising talents on the Glitter Strip are retained into the senior ranks.

The first of these steps to come to fruition comes is the announcement that all Gold Coast junior grand finals will be played at CBus Super Stadium, taking the game’s youngest prospects to the same stage as their idols.

“You think about young kids and the excitement of watching a game, can you imagine the excitement on the field where you’re heroes play? I don’t know a 10-year-old who would not love the opportunity,” Bradford said.

“What we’re trying to do is bring that excitement to kids and the families and add a new dimension. My understanding is we’re one of the first organisations – maybe the first – to do it nationally.

“I think with the growth of the game on the Coast we’re seeing probably an unheralded time of expansion — especially when we have the junior growth and the female junior game growing very quickly.”

Matt Bradford is the new chairman of Rugby League Gold Coast. Picture Glenn Hampson

While plans in place in take the junior ranks to new heights, Bradford has also identified the need to enhance the under-20s competition in the region.

For the 2022 campaign only five teams have taken the field, and while plenty of teenage talents play in senior football some clubs have simply been unable to fill a younger team that bridges the gap between the two demographics.

While the development of the under-20s competition hit a roadblock with the number of teams this year, Daley said plans were in the works for that division to expand towards a far larger format.

This season 18 sides have lined up in the under-18s across two divisions, with the outgoing chairman hopeful those same players filter up to the Colts program.

“As we all know in every sport you get to 15, 16, 17-year-olds and those younger blokes stop playing rugby league and sport,” Daley said.

“But we’ve been able to combine getting them into the seniors … it’s still a work in progress, but with the under-18s I’d like to think we can get eight to 10 under-20s teams next year.

“I think in the local teams we want clubs to be successful, and that’s all clubs,” Bradford added.

“I think you look at club education, leader development, participation growth or balance, they become very key conversations for us.

“There’s a saying that the rising tide lifts all boats, and hopefully we can contribute to that from a local league into opportunities for senior players.”

While Daley said he would continue to lend a hand to the game wherever he was needed, there were already plenty of actions begun under his tutelage he was hopeful to see expand further.

Merging the junior and senior governing bodies into one entity and entering ongoing discussions about every grand final on the Glitter Strip taking place at CBus Super Stadium over one weekend are among the highlights of his tenure.

Peter Daley. Picture: Jerad Williams

Others he said included leading the nation in referee retention, introducing an under-6s and under-7s rugby league tag outlet and the growing relationship between the association and Gold Coast Titans.

Discussions are also underway about how to bring regional towns such as Beaudesert, Pimpama and Yarrabilba into the fold.

However the movements made in the female code in recent years, culminating in the formation of the Karina Brown Challenge in the under-12 girls perhaps stand out the most.

“In the previous two or three years we’ve had two or three teams in an SEQ comp and they had to travel a fair bit,” Daley said.

“We’ve gone from two or three to eight teams this year in under 12 girls … and next year we’re talking of having the under-14s play on the Gold Coast.

“The next two years is massive in the growth department. Sometimes you need to step back and have a look at where things are heading, and maybe someone with different ideas will take us forward quicker.

“I’m definitely not leaving the game, I’ve still got plenty to offer to help people with. It’s been a big part of my life since I started playing in under-9s so I’m not walking away now.”

GETTING TO KNOW THE NEW BOSS

Bradford has always been a man who had a love affair with the game, growing up in Toowoomba where in his words there were typically two obsessions — cricket and rugby league.

This is now his second stint living on the Gold Coast, with his work frequently taking him all over the country.

Initially Bradford said he owned and ran a retail optical company, which he sold years ago in a bid to semi-retire.

Those plans changed quickly; first running a consultancy company before becoming the COO of George and Matilda Eyecare.

Now his retirement backflip has led to the healm of the Rugby League Gold Coast, and Bradford said putting his hand up was about finally being in a position where he could give back to the community and the sport he admired so much.

Matt Bradford is the new chairman of Rugby League Gold Coast. Picture Glenn Hampson

“The thing is retirement can be maddening for some people when you like to stay busy,” Bradford said.

“I felt I was at a time in my career I could give back to my community (and) I’ve got a history of it through my sport because mum and dad did it.

“Before it was Paralympic Games it was the Amputees Association (which they were involved in), and I got my desire to give back to the community through my family’s engagement.”

Away from his hectic schedule, Bradford goes back to his young family — with an 11-year-old and nine-year-old daughter, whom his admits while there is some handy basketball abilities beginning to show they have not quite made the jump to the Steeden yet.

But now that he is in his new rugby league role, perhaps that word will be what he holds onto: yet.