SCGRL off-season transfer tracker: 2025 A-grade recruits and coaching changes

The SCGRL off-season is well underway with Noosa unveiling a former Falcons captain as their new player-coach, Beerwah undergoing a changing of the guard and a host of other clubs making key off-field signings. See every new recruit and coaching change so far.

Stanley River Wolves signing Gareth Friedrich, Noosa Pirates new player-coach Tom Murphy, Beerwah head coach Greg Corkin and Caboolture head coach Ray Ballantyne.

The Sunshine Coast rugby league off-season is in full swing with a handful of A-grade clubs already bringing in new talent.

Just 46 days on from one of the competitions greatest ever grand final showdowns, clubs are already naming their fresh face recruits for the 2025 season.

Stay up to date with every move from around the grounds in our pre-season tracker below.

Pirates secure services of former Falcons captain

The Noosa Pirates have been one of the first teams to strike with rugby league journeyman Tom Murphy being announced as their new head coach for 2025.

Murphy will replace previous head coach Mick Duff who will transition into another coaching role within the club.

Murphy, a Maroochydore junior, entered the Canberra Raiders youth academy after graduating high school before relocating to play Queensland Cup with the Redcliffe Dolphins and Sunshine Coast Falcons.

Murphy played 34 matches for the Falcons between 2014 and 2016, captaining the side and winning the James Ackerman medal in 2015, before playing a season overseas in France and then transitioning to the Mackay Cutters for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

By 2019 Murphy had returned to the Sunshine Coast where he and a number of former Falcons players pulled on the jersey for the Stanley River Wolves A-grade side who completed a fairytale premiership winning season.

Murphy was also awarded man of the match in the Wolves 28-16 grand final victory over the Caboolture Snakes.

Tom Murphy after Stanley River’s 2019 grand final victory. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The crafty edge backrower then darted to the Northern Territory in 2021 to take on a player-coach role with Darwin-based Palmerston Raiders and more recently the Rockingham Sharks in Western Australia from 2022.

Murphy said he was extremely excited to re-join the Sunshine Coast A-grade competition.

“I’ll definitely be coaching and hopefully playing too if I’m good enough,” the 33-year-old said.

“I always had intent to come back and play or coach on the Sunshine Coast and had a great connection at Noosa who I’ve stayed in touch with over the years.”

Falcons captain, Tom Murphy, runs at the Townsville defence during his playing days. Picture: Che Chapman.

Murphy said with no state under-21s representative competition anymore he was looking forward to helping develop the club’s younger players.

“I haven't met any of the boys yet so my first priority is to get a good feel for the place but I’m really excited to be coming to an established club,” he said.

“I think Noosa have been building for a couple of years now and from an outsider looking in, the club has stepped up professionally in all the key areas.

“They started the 2023 season well before unfortunately falling away towards the end but the expectations are high, the drive is to be playing at the business end of the season and pushing for a premiership.

“It sounds like it’s a much more young and skilful A-grade competition now too so that’s another element I’m looking forward to.”

‘SuperCoach’ steps aside with Bulldogs successor named

Beerwah Bulldogs back-to-back premiership winning A-grade head coach Brett ‘Darcy’ Hill has stepped into a new senior coaching co-ordinator role for the 2025 season.

The club announced earlier this month that current assistant coach Greg Corkin will take over the reigns for next season.

“I’m getting a little bit older so it was getting a bit tougher and I just decided to let some younger guys in,” Hill said.

“I had a great time coaching, I’m still hanging around in a sense to help out where I can but it’s a step back for me.

Beerwah Rugby League coach Brett Hill. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Greg is pretty much ingrained in the club, he’s been around forever and it should be a smooth transition.

“Everyone loves him and I’ve got no doubt he’ll do a great job.”

Corkin, 47, has had both his sons play for Beerwah while his daughter is in the under-15s girls division currently.

Corkin has been involved in the A-grade coaching staff since 2020, serving as the official assistant coach for the past two seasons.

“I’m really excited for next season, obviously winning two straight competitions mean I just want to keep on building,” he said.

“We have so many players returning again next year which is a key point that stands out for me.

“I think that and the ongoing development of our junior players that got their first taste of A-grade last season, it’ll be a highlight to watch them come through and continue their trajectory.”

Corkin has gotten straight to work too with the club re-signing Bulldogs enforcer Rowan Jardine for 2025.

New Snakes coach eager for next chapter

Experienced campaigner Ray Ballantyne has been announced as the Caboolture Snakes 2025 A-grade coach, replacing outgoing head coach Jamie Floss.

Ballantyne brings with him an extensive coaching resume having worked as a development officer, manager and coach for the Canberra Raiders, ACT Schoolboys and Sunshine Coast Falcons.

Caboolture Snakes head coach Ray Ballantyne.

Ballantyne made the transition from Beerwah to Caboolture midway through last season, where he served as an assistant to his son’s premiership winning under-19s team.

“My youngest son is at Beerwah but my eldest played under-19s at Caboolture last season so that’s how I got involved and got a better idea of the club,” he said.

“I was aware the opportunity of A-grade head coach was coming up at Caboolture and I was really interested.

“Not that the club is in a bad way but they’ve got a great desire to improve on and off the field and I view it as a great challenge to show my skills and get the playing group to where they need to be.”

The 48-year-old, who has been coaching for more than 20 years, said he was excited for the coming months.

“They’ve got a great crop of young players coming through the ranks, we’re not expecting anything major but it will be great to get the groundwork in and set ourselves up for years to come,” Ballantyne said.

“Through the conversations I’ve had with players, although they’ve been competitive and even come close to silverware in recent years, there’s still so much hunger from the playing group.

“They all play for each other, they’re a great bunch of guys and the committee is really enthusiastic which is exciting.”

Sharks snap up coach of the year

Recently announced SCGRL coach of the year Craig Cleary has also been confirmed to return as A-grade head coach of the Caloundra Sharks in 2025.

“It was very unexpected but very special to be recognised for the work that goes in away from the field and away from training,” Cleary said.

“My wife is probably the only one that truly sees that work behind the scenes but it was a great club effort this year.”

Caloundra Sharks head coach Craig Cleary.

Cleary will be joined by Falcons stalwart Dane Hogan and Todd Maguire as assistant coaches.

“Toddy was the reserve grade assistant coach last season but is really good with his film work and back-end stuff that needs to be done so I’m glad to have him on board,” Cleary said.

“I’m just trying to get a team together that can all chip in when required and help share the workload.”

A handful of ex-Sharks players have also put their hand up to help out including Hayden Elsbach who has endured back-to-back ACL surgeries.

“Hayden Elsbach couldn’t commit to a role due to his work restraints but he really wants to be around when he can and will do a lot of work with our hookers in the senior grades,” Cleary said.

“We’ll have some other guys helping our kickers and so on which will be good.”

Wolves keep off-season signings ticking over

After making their A-grade return in 2024 the Stanley River Wolves have renamed Ethan Szendrey as their head coach for the upcoming season and will be joined by a number of returning faces.

Star forward Ben King, outside back Daemon Cruise and damaging prop Josh Lister have all re-signed for 2025 while Wolves junior Gareth Friedrich has returned to the club.

Stanley River Wolves player Gareth Friedrich.

Friedrich, a talented lock forward, was a part of the Rivers premiership winning team in 2019 before a pre-season camp with the Redcliffe Dolphins followed by a successful stint with Valleys in the BRL in 2020.

He then returned to Stanley River in 2021, played for the Caboolture Snakes in 2022, Valleys in 2023 and West Brisbane Panthers in 2024.

“We’re always happy to get our local juniors back at the club,” Szendrey said.

“I'm really keen to see him out on the field as I know he’ll be a great asset for us and will strengthen our middle.”

Originally published as SCGRL off-season transfer tracker: 2025 A-grade recruits and coaching changes