Rugby League Gold Coast: A-Grade home and away season report card
With the home and away season in the books, we run the rule over every Rugby League Gold Coast A-Grade side leading into finals and reveal their best players and most improved.
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The 2024 regular season is in the books and finals are upon us in Rugby League Gold Coast.
Ahead of the crunch games, we run the rule over every sides season thus far and name their top performers and most improved player.
Read the report cards below.
Helensvale Hornets
Ladder position: 6th
Record: 2-1-12
Analysis: The only side to miss finals, it was a disappointing year for Helensvale who were hit hard by injuries throughout the season. The Hornets have a powerful forward pack spearheaded by Lloyd Perrett, but are a youthful side overall and lack experience which has cost them at times.
Top performers: Halfback Campbell Pirihi has been a standout, as was forward Isaiah Perrett despite missing the latter stages of the season. Perrett’s consistency was what had set him apart. Centre Malachi Morgan also impressed.
Most improved: Jack Murphy is just 18 and despite picking up an injury was playing great footy at the start of the year. He’s a confident kid who has a crack and does everything with pace and aggression. Doesn’t lack confidence. Jayden Searle is another, he came up from the reggies and has been outstanding. He’s a workhorse and he improved out of sight over the course of the year, going from a fringe starter to one of the first picked.
Grade: D
Tugun Seahawks
Ladder position: 2nd
Record: 9-1-5
Analysis: When you watch Tugun play, you know you’re in for an entertaining and high-scoring clash. Scoring points has never been the Seahawks issue – with 470 they scored more than anyone this season – but it’s conceding them that’s the problem. They leaked 416 points this season and only Helensvale conceded more.
Despite some blips against Runaway Bay, Tugun has enjoyed a consistent year and handled injury setbacks well. The main area they will be focusing heading into finals is their goalline defence, which was a sore point at times this season and a key contributor to them leaking tries. Discipline has also hindered the Seahawks hard and penalties or six again’s would release the pressure valve far too often.
Top performer: Kane Elgey has been a great pick up and enjoyed an uber consistent 2024. His leadership has set him apart and he can remain calm in high pressure situations. His skillet allows him to finesse touches and he’s also got a superb kicking game. “He’s got the ball on a string,” mused coach Will Johnstone. Equally, he has nailed 48 out of 52 conversions since taking over the kicking duties from Kyle Williams and his pass selection is top notch.
Most improved: Solomon Torrens is a middle forward who missed the start of the year through injury, but found consistency and built and improved throughout the season. Tanu Nona has been coming off the bench at dummy half and despite a lull in the middle of the year was another big improver.
Grade: B+
Burleigh Bears
Ladder position: 1st
Record: 10-1-4
Analysis: The Bears have enjoyed a great season to earn the minor premiership. After a slow start the young group was buoyed by the conclusion of the Mal Meninga Cup and started playing strongly. As is the nature when the club has its own Hostplus Cup outfit, there’s been lots of personnel change over the course of the season but their consistency in the back-end has been a nod to their broad range of talent. A monumental 70-4 drubbing of Currumbin in round eight was one of their season highlights.
Top performer: Takitau Mapapalangi joined Burleigh from French rugby league several rounds into the season and immediately turned heads. He won selection into the Gold Coast Vikings side and was named Chair’s Challenge player of the Carnival and selected in the Queensland City side. Cracked Burliegh’s Hostplus Cup line-up in the back-end of the season but was great when he featured for their RLGC side. He’s a very well rounded player, he’s strong, has got good footwork, is good defensively and has a really good engine. Been a great find for the Bears.
Most improved: Brody Turner – one of the many bright and youthful Bears from the Mal Meninga Cup side – has been playing really well throughout the season and learning every week. He’s a middle forward who has started to figure out his best plays. Versatile forward Aston Bai started the year in reserve grade but forced his way into the A-grade set-up after trials and hasn’t looked back. He’s now close to Burleigh’s first picked each week and even cracked the Vikings representative side. He’s a well built unit and makes people tackle him – there’s never any soft carries.
Grade: A
Runaway Bay Seagulls
Ladder position: 5th
Record: 6-1-8
Analysis: The Seagulls had a low start to the season and were at a loss for their effort after round eight. An honesty session followed midweek and so did an upturn in performance. They’re a young side and that no doubt presented its challenges throughout the season as they tried to get the team on the same page and play a more structured game. They don’t expect immediate success and the cub is building for the future under the tutelage of Jeremy Smith.
Top performer: Zane Lothian gave 100 per cent everywhere he played for the Seagulls and had a great year. He’s main post was at hooker but he’s a versatile player. The returning Quielle Murray was really good and was picked as the Vikings centre. He’s tall and carried the Seagulls forward and got them to where they needed to be, he takes the hard yards and gets them out of trouble. Performed strongly with youth outside of him. Special mention to captain Codey McLaughlin also, the club stalwart was a great leader throughout the year.
Most improved: Upon his return from New Zealand Liam Wilson returned to the Seagulls and impressed. He’s a fullback and started the year in the reserves forced way in to A-grade and didn’t look back, also earning selection in the Vikings squad. He’s quick on his feet and small yet tough as teeth. His acceleration and speed set him apart.
Grade: C
Currumbin Eagles
Ladder position: 3rd
Record: 9-0-6
Analysis: After making the prelim last year and stringing together another strong campaign in 2024 the Eagles have become a respected side under Matt Geyer. Their depth was tested this season and it was rewarding for Geyer to see kids fill gaps and hold their own. The 70-4 loss to Burleigh in round eight was a lowlight and they need to work on their combinations and cohesion. Boom Mid-season pick up Kevin Proctor has proved a handy pick up as he chases a premiership with his junior club. You can tell how much he loves it and when and Geyer described him as a “cat on hot tin roof” when he’s off the field.
Top performer: Jarrod Gill already has a handful of player of the year awards at Currumbin and he good be set to add to that tally. He made a strong start to the season, always gets through his work and has a superb engine. He never takes himself off the field but as soon as he does get off he’s exhausted. That he can push his limits is what has made him so good for so long. Plays the full 80 minutes when needed and carries the ball well.
Most improved: Jack Campbell played as a no. 13 off the bench much of the year and impressed, and his twin brother Tom was also good. Both are 20 or so games into their A-grade careers and are beginning to adapt to the rigours of senior footy. Tom plays on the edge while Jack is a middle forward who takes care of the little things. Both have good footwork and play a similar style of footy.
Grade: C
Southport Tigers
Ladder position: 4th
Record: 7-0-8
Analysis: If the Tigers are to achieve a storied three-peat under Greg Bird, they’ll have to do ti the hard way, starting with a do-or-die clash with Runaway Bay this weekend. Southport was hit hard by injuries and also suspension over the course of the season, with their discipline proving costly at times. Queensland City select Sam Shannon was the latest case and is set to miss the bulk of the finals and he was rubbed out for dangerous contact, but they will be far closer to full strength with a host of names, headlined by Eni Folau, set to return.
Ball carrying and simple mistakes have also cost the Tigers in crucial moments and they’ve lost a number of games, which is both a blessing and a curse. It indicates that despite a fourth-place finish they were well within reach of the top side, however it also raises concerns as to how they’ll fare with their season on the line in a close finals game. Of five Gold Coast players selected the Queensland City side, four hailed from Southport, which speaks volumes to the quality they possess.
Top performers: Sam Shannon and Ronin Rio have also impressed. The awareness and decision-making of lightning quick and unassumingly strong fullback Jaman Rio have set him apart. Jordan Scott has also been massive, particularly on defence and leading the team around the paddock. He’s a true leader and old school player who brings energy in spades.
Most improved: Second-rower Angus Dam has been a surprise packet this season. He was an unknown quantity who arrived from the country and hasn’t looked back. He plays big minutes, never lets the team down and runs and tackles hard. He’s simply Mr. Consistent. Karlos Rakena is an under-18 who has had opportunities on the wing and done his job properly without being overwhelmed. He’s mature, runs the ball hard and has plenty of energy and talk.
Grade: C-
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