Battle of Brisbane feud: QCup turf war that soured Broncos-Dolphins relations even further

It was the Queensland Cup turf war that ended a near two-decade Broncos partnership. This is how the Dolphins infiltrated Norths Devils to pull off an the cross-town heist.

It was the one-hour meeting that dropped a bombshell on the Broncos.

Wayne Bennett has emerged as a pivotal figure in the Dolphins stealing the Brisbane feeder club that produced Storm ‘Awesome Foursome’ Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk.

For almost two decades, the Norths Devils had strong affiliate ties to the Broncos.

The Brisbane rugby league powerhouse, founded 91 years ago, had supplied a number of young guns to the NRL, including current Broncos Kobe Hetherington, Cory Paix, Brendan Piakura and Queensland Origin sensation Reece Walsh.

But the landscape shifted dramatically last June, when Norths severed ties with the Broncos and signed a four-year deal with the Dolphins, adding further spice to Friday night’s Battle of Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

In the wake of the decision, the Broncos reacted by withdrawing the likes of Jock Madden, Xavier Willison and Piakura from Devils selection.

It was a compelling insight into the emotion surrounding the decision in Queensland rugby league’s new turf war, but almost 12 months on, Devils powerbrokers insist there are no regrets over their Dolphins defection.

The Dolphins managed to steal Norths Devils as the feeder club from Brisbane. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“We had no intention of ever leaving the Broncos,” Devils chairman Michael Crutcher said.

“We had 16 years with the Broncos and we always had a healthy relationship. We will always be indebted to guys like Paul White and Peter Nolan for embracing the Queensland Cup and seeing it as a valuable pathway.

“I remember when Anthony Seibold was coaching at the Broncos (in 2018), he recalled how the Devils developed the Storm champions (Smith, Slater, Inglis and Cronk) and for the next 20 years the other NRL clubs had to play catch up.

“We were hoping to get a new deal done with the Broncos, but the turning point was the Dolphins’ understanding of our region and their intent to develop the game from the grassroots up in the northern suburbs.

“It wasn’t just about the money, it was about the shared philosophy and there are no regrets at all, the Dolphins have been magnificent.”

With the Devils’ affiliate contract with the Broncos up for renewal last year, the Dolphins’ pitch was a seminal moment.

Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis (not pictured) came through the Devils’ system. Picture: Billy Slater’s autobiography

The $100 million Redcliffe operation rolled out the big guns. Dolphins CEO Terry Reader was joined by recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan and super coach Wayne Bennett, who had started his career in the Brisbane State League in the 1980s.

“The Dolphins’ presentation was as good as anything I’ve ever seen,” Crutcher said.

“Wayne Bennett turned up and for one hour we sat down and the Dolphins team, including Wayne and CEO Terry Reader, delivered their vision for rugby league on the northside.

“We had 10 junior affiliate clubs and last year we lost St Josephs who were a 60-year-old club.

“We knew we couldn’t have a situation where junior clubs were folding and we became increasingly attuned to the threat of AFL and soccer.

“Wayne understood that. He stated his commitment to developing the game on the northside.

“That presentation was really important in our final decision.

“Terry Reader was a former Devils CEO, he spent 16 months at our club, so he had an affinity for our club and he gets grassroots football.

“Wayne has a great passion for the Brisbane State League and the Queensland Cup.

“When the Broncos and Devils first joined forces, Wayne was the Broncos coach and he said at our meeting, you know my commitment to this competition and 12 months on, it’s been true.

“The Dolphins have been excellent to deal with and the Broncos have been active on the northside, too, and that’s great.

“The more activity on the northside the better it is for the health of rugby league.”

Norths have been a powerhouse in recent years, winning back-to-back Queensland Cup titles in 2021-22, and O’Sullivan is adamant the Devils will help the Dolphins become an NRL force in the coming seasons.

“Logistically, it was perfect for us,” he said.

“By signing the Devils, we had all of north Brisbane covered, so it was a no-brainer for us.

“The Devils are a great footy club with great operators there.

“I’d had good dealings with them in the past so it was the obvious fit for us and luckily they saw it as well.

“To the Dolphins board’s credit, they have spent money on development and they have done it right.

“Having Norths on board has set us up for continued success for a long time and the first crop of kids we have signed will be coming into the NRL side in the coming years which is exciting.”

Originally published as Battle of Brisbane feud: QCup turf war that soured Broncos-Dolphins relations even further