Rugby League Gold Coast 2025 Season Guide: 36 recruits named, line-up predictions

Tugun, Currumbin and Burleigh are heavily favoured to be the final teams live on grand final after stellar recruitment classes. Meet the new faces set to star in Gold Coast Rugby League.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Tyrone Peachey of Panthers avoid a challenge from Tom Weaver of Titans during the round 25 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Penrith Panthers at Cbus Super Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Tugun have confirmed the signing of former Titan, Panther and Tiger Tyrone Peachey to lead the club from the halves in the Seahawks’ title defence.

The 33-year-old New South Wales State of Origin representative will replace Kane Elgey in the blue-and-white No.6 jersey, where his connection with former Holbrook era Titan Mitch Rein at hooker will go some way to filling the shoes left by a Seahawk spinal exodus.

Captain and halfback Will Johnstone, hooker Sam Meskill and five-eighth Elgey have all retired on the highest of notes.

It would be a devastating blow to any title defence but Tugun have recruited well to ensure an all-new spine is again among the Gold Coast’s finest.

Tugun are well back among the competition’s coaches, with three coaches backing the Seahawks to return to the grand final.

The same number believe Burleigh will be there on grand final day, after bringing home star hooker Jordon Scott from the Southport Tigers.

Matt Geyer’s Currumbin Eagles, buoyed by the addition of Jarrod Wallace into the forward pack, are the only club to have greater support from the competition’s coaches, with four tips for the Eagles to fly on grand final day.

We interviewed each of the competition’s coaches to reveal their club’s goals for 2025, pre-season form guides, strengths, weaknesses, ins and outs, and had a crack at predicting their Round 1 line-ups for them.

TUGUN SEAHAWKS

2024: Premiers

Coach: Will Johnstone

2025 Goal: “Coming off a year where we won the comp in A Grade and Reserve Grade, the goal is to go back-to-back. We know how challenging that is do and we know that comes with having a target on your back but we’ve got a very capable group this year and that’s where we’ll be aiming.”

Pre-season form guide: “It’s been a bit interrupted with the weather. We had one trial against Marist Brothers Lismore in the Northern Rivers competition. It was a good, competitive trial but hard because we played one group of 25-26 group and they played two teams, so it was a bit hard to get a gauge. When we played their A Grade group it was a good game. We’ve got a fair few new combinations with a lot of blokes moving on and some new blokes to the club. I think it might take a little bit of getting used to because there are so many new faces but I’m confident we’ve definitely got some talent there.”

Team strengths: ”We’ve got some very strong players in the spine with a lot of experience and leadership. I think that’s our area we’ll thrive. We also have some strike outside backs, and I think that experience in our spine with our outside backs will take us pretty far.”

Team weaknesses: ”There has been so much player turnover. A lot of guys were looking to win a premiership and now they’ve won one, they’re done. From last year to this year we’ve lost pretty much our entire spine: both halves, both hookers. Players in key positions have moved on and obviously that can take a while for that continuity to come. I think that will be our challenge early, especially because we don’t have that continuous schedule early on. That’s going to be a challenge to be able to gel and get through these early rounds but we’ll try get a few wins on the board with the new group.

Ins: Mitch Rein (out of retirement), Tyrone Peachey (Panthers NRL), Jaman Rio (Southport), Jack Cook (France), Jake Bourke (Newcastle), Ryan Cronin (Wagga Wagga), Casey Lynch (Wagga Wagga), Riley Reid (Tweed Queensland Cup), Aaron Singh-Gosall (Murwillumbah)

Outs: Will Johnstone (retired/coaching), Kane Elgey (retired), Sam Meskill (retired), Tanu Nona (Bulldogs NRL), James Torrens, Harry Hughes, Bailey Simpson.

Key recruits: ”Tyrone Peachey has been in the system at the Panthers for the last few years who have won four NRL competitions in a row. He comes with massive experience and he’s fresh out of the NRL system, so he’s been great for us at training. He’s very versatile - he’s going to play five-eighth for us, which is where he wants to play and we see him being his best because he gets his hands on the ball lots. It allows him to be a real attacking threat and have the most impact on the game.

“Jaman Rio is another inclusion who could play in the halves or the outside backs for us. He went up to Townsville for a stint at the Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup but he’s come to us this year. He lives near Currumbin and he’s been outstanding at training. I played against him for many, many years. He’s a strong ballrunner so I’m excited to see what he’ll do working with Peachey and Mitch Rein. Those three look great.”

Grand Final prediction: “I hope we’re there, that’s the goal, and I’ve got pretty good mail that Burleigh are going to be very strong this year. They’ve got a lot of blokes back to the club, a lot of recruits. I look at their state league side, their Mal Meninga squad, they’ve got a lot of guys who are hungry to break through to state league. I’m certain they’re going to be very strong this year.”

Predicted 17:

1. Kyle Williams

2. Tim Cassidy

3. Caleb Hodges

4. Jake Lateo

5. Brett McGiffen

6. Tyrone Peachey

7. Jaman Rio

8. Tim Wolens

9. Mitch Rein

10. Solomon Torrens

11. Michael Schipp

12. Reico Ratana

13. Jack Cook

14. Kobi Annand

15. Kody Parsons

16. Junior Filimaua

17. Dan Kelly

CURRUMBIN EAGLES

2024: Grand Finalist

Coach: Matt Geyer

2025 Goal: “The big focus of our club is around culture. We want to make sure we retain juniors and make sure we have great followings. We have a big focus on making sure we can help individuals get out of the club what they want, and give back plenty as well. On the field, last year we didn’t a senior comp at the Eagles where for a long time, for a small club, we’ve usually won one senior comp. That was a bit disappointing so that will be a goal for the club to get back on the success. We’ve definitely got the youth coming through which is what we need.”

Pre-season form guide: “We’ve only had one pre-season game. It was just a mess, weather has just played havoc. We got one trial up at Kawana. Neither squad was at full strength but Kawana had links with Sunny Coast Falcons and we had a few fringe players at Tweed and the Jets so we managed to get the points there. We were able to give so many juniors senior minutes in A Grade or Reserve Grade and they handled it well.

Team strengths: “We’ve got a really good mix in our forward pack. We’ve had five or six young players do part of a Cup pre-season, and on top of that great experience with Kevin Proctor and Jarrod Wallace. We’ve got some real good experience there with our resident G.O.A.T Jarrod Gill. We have a few things to be hopeful for but our forward pack will be a big strength if we can stay healthy. We’ll be able to take on most packs.”

Team weaknesses: “A big thing for us over the years is you never like conceding any points, let alone some. Defence is something you can always focus on even if you’re the best defensive team in the competition. That’s definitely what we want. We’ll probably have a more simple approach to the game but I do like players to play the game as they see it and give them the tools and structures to do that.”

Ins: Jarrod Wallace, Josh Walker, Harvey Whiteley, Brock Ashton, Bailey Simpson

Outs: Lachie Smith, Elliot Speedy (Cudgen), Michael Burgess, Taine Robinson (Kyogle), Joel Thompson, Jack Hudson

Key recruits: ”Jarrod Wallace played NRL last year. If he was in a squad last year he’ll do a great job for us. He’s great mates with Kevvy Proctor which helps. We’ve got a young hooker from England named Harvey Whiteley and another named Brock Ashton, who is great mates with our fullback James Busby and has come down from Brisbane. They’ll combine to fill that role or fight each other for it. I don’t want to speak ill of the hookers we’ve had before but we feel like we can cover that spot with them. We want to give both of them a really good shot at the jersey.”

Grand Final prediction: “It’s always been Southport/Burleigh/Tugun lately, but I want to put ourselves in there. We don’t want to be going backwards after making the final. I hear Bay have put a pretty good squad together, and Burleigh’s biggest problem is going to be salary cap points. They’ve got a formidable line-up and they’ll be the ones I’m keeping my eye on.”

Predicted 17:

1. Hunter Ploegsma

2. Tyrell Naleba

3. Ken Allison

4. Nash Geyer

5. Josh Walker

6. Jakeem Thompson

7. James Busby

8. Jarrod Wallace

9. Harvey Whiteley

10. Jarrod Gill

11. Kevin Proctor

12. Kalin Roptata

13. Jayden Wright

14. Brock Ashton

15. Baylen Donald

16. Tom Campbell

17. Jack Campbell

BURLEIGH BEARS

2024: Preliminary Finalist

Coach: Matt Foster

2025 Goal: “We’re a progressive club where we try give opportunities for players to achieve the highest level they can play. Collectively, we like to try come together and put performances on the field and get results. Everyone goes into competitions wanting to win, there’s no doubt, but we haven’t sat down and talked about winning the competition. We talk about improving as a group and working hard for each other.”

Pre-season form guide: “We’ve done most of our training with the Queensland Cup squad. We’ve not played a game in seven weeks, when we had a joint A Grade / Cup trial against Tweed. We literally had that one trial and four attempts since that failed with the cyclone, the unfortunate situation with the referee and the rain. Each week we’ve tried to play a game and it’s just not happened. We’re going into the first game pretty skinny on contact.

Team strengths: “We’ve got a squad we’re very comfortable with and a squad we think will compete and do themselves justice. Without seeing those combinations, we’re excited by little combinations like (halves pairing) Bailey McConnell and Matt Egan and seeing those hopefully start to gel and work with each other and grow. Across the board we’re pretty happy with what we’ve got.”

Team weaknesses: “It’s hard to place a specific on that but any team that doesn’t have an effort-based mentality is a weakness in itself. We’re looking to be an effort-based team, we want 100 per cent, and off the back of that we can start to identify how we manage our performances in defence, structure, attack. We’ll get more of that once the games start to roll in.”

Ins: Jordon Scott (Southport), Blake Scott (Southport), Matt Egan (Northern Pride), Flynn Groth (Ipswich Jets),

Outs: Ollie Tuimavave, George House (Currumbin), Bailey Bartley

Key recruits: ”Jordon Scott is a natural competitor. If you wanted to play a game of tiddlywinks he’d tried to beat. He competes all the way through and he’s a genuine leader with his actions, he’s very popular with the playing group. His show-and-go near the line is pretty good, his service is good. He’s got a strong shoulder. I’ve got a lot of time for Jordon Scott and he’s a welcome addition back at Burleigh. And his brother (Blake) is a quality player too. They’re very different characters but good men and a lot of skill in Blake. They both play No.9 but Blake can play No.13 or in the halves, so he’s got a bit of utility there. It will possibly be a 9/14 combination because we have several quality No.13s.”

Grand Final prediction: ”We have to back ourselves because that’s what we’re here to do. It’s between us and Tugun or Currumbin. Tugun have signed well with Mitch Rein and Tyrone Peachey, who will stand out on anybody’s team sheet. Currumbin have been the competition’s great growers over the past seven years and I rate Matt Geyer highly as coach. It will be hard to split Tugun and Currumbin, possibly.

Predicted 17:

1. Mitchael Walit

2. Harry Quinlan

3. Conor Carey

4. Nick O’Meley

5. Mitch Watson

6. Bailey McConnell

7. Matt Egan

8. Tau Mapapalangi

9. Jordon Scott

10. Aston Bai

11. Sam McIntyre

12. Jake Gleeson

13. Ryan Jones

14. Blake Scott

15. Joe Duffy

16. Brady Turner

17. Flynn Groth

SOUTHPORT TIGERS

2024: Semi Finalist

Coach: Todd Tasker

2025 Goal: ”At the moment it’s a rebuild. With the stuff that’s gone on the last couple of years I don’t have massive expectations for the boys. I’ve got a squad who is happy with just playing football and wanting to play for each other. I want to see the club successful again but I want to see it without the expectation of cash. I want the players to turn up and play for Southport for the sake of playing football. I want them to turn up and play at an enjoyable place to place, not somewhere they’ve got to turn up for cash. I want it to be about football again. It’s not about coming here for money any more.”

Pre-season form guide: “It’s been up and down. We’ve had parts here and there where it’s been washed out - we didn’t get to play a single trial - but other than that it’s been strong. It’s been a bit disrupted with players walking, players coming back, coaches walking, coaches coming back. I’ve told the boys that have been there from the start just keep focusing on football and on training and we’ll make it work.”

Team strengths: ”I’ve got a lot of young blokes who are keen and eager for the opportunity to play A Grade. For me that’s a massive strength. These boys are willing to learn and grow and make their positions, and the team, their own. We’ve got a lot of local juniors which is a bonus for us. It’s looking very good when we’re at training. They know it will be harder coming up against blokes with a lot of NRL and A Grade experience but they’re hungry for that and that’s only going to make us stronger at the end of the year.”

Team weaknesses: ”I’ve got massive belief in our middle but we are a little bit smaller than the rest of the squads. In time they’re going to work up to the task and it will all work out.”

Ins: ”It’s a lot of juniors. There’s a few blokes I’ve pulled in from Reserve Grade and DMC from other clubs but nothing huge. Myles Rose has come from Coomera. Hayden Bussell has come from Nerang. Brian Tsai has come from Tamborine Mountain. They’re the biggest names I’ve got.”

Outs: “Other than Brooklyn Stanley, who was there last year, all the existing team from last year is completely gone.”

Key recruits: ”Myles is a second rower, he’s going to be our captain for the year. He’s the oldest head in the team but his knowledge and experience playing in NSW and on the Coast helps me. He’s a natural leader. Hayden has played A Grade in Goondiwindi and Reserve Grade, A Grade and DMC on the Coast as well. He’s a halfback/five-eighth. Brian’s only played a couple of years but you’d think he’d played 20+ years with the experience he’s had at hooker or lock.”

Grand Final prediction: ”The six squad’s are all pretty strong. I’d probably say Tugun and Currumbin again.”

Predicted 17:

1. Harry Stokes

2. Aaron Smith

3. Mitchel Preston

4. Zion Brunton

5. Dion Smith

6. Caleb Carlson

7. Hayden Bussell

8. Jade Waihi

9. Chris Manley

10. Nuki Bussell

11. Myles Rose (C)

12. Aaron Ruck

13. Zach Martin

14. Brian Tsai

15. Brooklyn Stanley

16. Ky Eade

17. Guy Ward

RUNAWAY BAY SEAGULLS

2024: Semi-Finalist

Coach: Paul Kuhnemann

2025 Goal: “Really just building on what we did last year in regards to effort. We made the finals and were knocked out in round one, so just improving on that. We had a young squad last year, a lot of injuries, so we’ve had a building year. Now we’re trying to get further into the finals series. Everyone’s end goal is to win the grand final but sometimes it’s good to be as competitive as we can be. It’s a pretty tight comp.”

Pre-season form guide: “We haven’t played a trial so we’re going in fresh this week. The Nines was cancelled because of the Cyclone. We were meant to go to Murwillumbah which got rained off. We were supposed to play Burleigh the week before last and unfortunately the referee died that day so that got called off as well. We were meant to play Helensvale on the weekend and that got rained off as well. So it’s been pretty disrupted. It is what it is.”

Team strengths: “That is a hard one because we haven’t had much. They will build on the stuff they built last year. There were a lot of games last year where we didn’t have a lot of our top-line players and we brought through a lot of youth. Three or four kids made their debut in A Grade who were backing up from under-20s which is a massive effort. Building on that, bringing that through and using that stepping stone to push the older guys and possibly keep them out of the team. It’s been a good pre-season (regarding competition for spots).”

Team weaknesses: “It’s everyone’s nemesis: defence is going to be key. If you look at scorelines from last year, defending your mistakes is going to be the biggest thing. If you’ve got that, points will come off the back of that. Especially in these early rounds. Attack can be silky but you have to defend well.”

Ins: Dan Shannon (Southport), Joseph Shannon (Southport), Carne Doyle (Southport) Bailey Bartley (Burleigh), Isaac McCormack (out of retirement), Luke De Vlieg (Burleigh)

Outs: Kurtis Rowe (retired), Doryaan Hape-Apiata (unknown)

Key recruits: “They’ve all handled themselves brilliantly in the off-season. It’s been good for our players to be around blokes with a bit more professionalism, it’s been great fighting for positions. Joseph Shannon has come through the Titans system so will probably play lock or edge. His reputation precedes him, he started pre-season last year with the Titans. He and his brother did pre-season with Tweed Seagulls and played trials for them. Dan is a leader, he played Queensland City last year as a front rower. He’s coming off a good year. He’s a natural born leader that kid. Smart head on his shoulders and a really good addition to our squad leading from the front.

Predicted 17:

1. Liam Wilson

2. Dre Goldsmith

3. Ezra Walker

4. Q Murray

5. Brock Lennox

6. Casey Harding

7. Haslley MacDonald

8. Noah Greive

9. Zane Lothian

10. Dan Shannon

11. Codey McLaughlin (C)

12. Freddy Dallas-Quadry

13. Jason Turnbull

14. Bailey Bartley

15. Joey Shannon

16. Zach McCormack

17. Carne Doyle-Manga

HELENSVALE HORNETS

2024: Wooden Spoon

Coach: Andrew Grills

2025 Goal: “My main goal this season is to build the culture, grading the juniors and up-and-comers having a go with the big boys. We didn’t have a good year last year but we’ve kicked off this year really well.

Pre-season form guide: “We’ve been training really well since Christmas but we lost the Nines and we lost a trial against Warwick, which didn’t help. We went into the Hornet Cup (vs. Cudgen) underprepared ballwork wise but the boys handled it really well. That was only 3x20 minutes but it was hot, it rained, and the boys’ fitness levels were really good. I’d have liked at least one more trial but that’s footy. I’d like to think we can make the semis and give it a good crack.”

Team strengths: “We’re pretty good across the board. We’ve got a couple of big boppers in the middle. Local lads who’ve got fitter and fitter the longer we’ve gone. We’ve got a couple of young hookers. Kelly White, our president, has done a really good job forming a good squad. We’re averaging 80 a night at training from A Grade to under-18s, all mixing it up. They’re a really good bunch of blokes too. We ran about 8km in the rain the other night and not one of them complained.”

Team weaknesses: “It’s got to be lack of games together at the moment. It’s hard leading into the start of the season when we’ve had one game but a couple of clubs haven’t had any. That’s every club’s weakness.”

Ins: Brock Goodman (Hills District Bulls, Ron Massey Cup), Eni Folau (Southport), Tyler Wasson (Burleigh), Nick Tuiva (Clydesdales), Brayden Young, Grant Garvey, Malachi Morgan, Caleb Isaia (Tweed), Grant Garvey, Campbell Piritti

Outs: Lloyd Perrett (retirement), Jaylen Graham (retirement)

Key recruits: “We’ve got a lot of experience. We’ve just signed Brock Goodman who was halfback of the year in the Ron Massey Cup in Sydney and has played Q-Cup. He played with Tweed for a while before Sydney but clearly liked Queensland. He and his wife decided to move back up here for the Queensland lifestyle. He’s got all the skills, a good defender, a good organiser. Can run, can kick, can play hooker. He’s got a really good skillset and comes out of a good competition, the Ron Massey Cup. He was voted halfback of the year by the other coaches. I’d compare him a bloke I played with back in the day in Geoff Toovey. Tough, small, can tackle pass and kick. He’s got all the skills that Geoff had but a little bit taller. Eni Folau came across to play with Jaylen (Graham) because they’re good mates but Jaylen has picked up a good FIFO job. Eni’s happy to pass on his knowledge to the young boys. He’s been great for the club. He’s bought into how we want to do things about being One Club. It’s been a changing of the guard at Helensvale so hopefully that helps on the field.”

Grand Final prediction: Helensvale and Currumbin. Currumbin’s obviously got a bit of money behind them and they all seem to head towards Matty Geyer (coach), especially the ex-Grade players. But they’re still footballers. I’ve got a good young squad who is keen, with half a dozen still eligible for under-20s. I can say this: I’ve been involved in a lot of clubs and I’ve never seen a better run club than Helensvale.”

Predicted 17:

1. Kristan Doolan

2. Lachlan Golby

3. Caleb Isaia

4. Malachi Morgan

5. Cooper McCann

6. Campbell Piritti (C)

7. Lachlan Evans

8. Cameron Newell

9. Jesse Adams

10. Brayden Young

11. Kyle Wasson

12. Jayden Searle

13. Eni Folau

14. Jett Schumacher

15. Bailey Freimayer

16. Brock Goodman

17. Lorenzo Ma’afu