QRL gives the green light to Western Clydesdales cup return

It’s the announcement rugby league fans across Queensland have been waiting for. Here’s how the Western Clydesdales fought their way back into the elite rugby league competition.

With six small words Western Clydesdales chairman Tony Coonan signalled the start of a new era in Queensland rugby league.

“We are there, we are in,” Mr Coonan said.

For the first time in more than 15 years the Clydesdales banner will fly in Queensland Rugby League’s premier competition – the HostPlus Cup – once again.

“The QRL have accepted our entry into the HostPlus Cup for 2023,” Coonan said.

“Now the QRL are going to work very closely to work with the Australian Rugby League Commission to sort out our journey.

“This is absolutely fantastic for the Western Clydesdales and rugby league across south

west Queensland.

“South west Queensland is rugby league heartland and it is really exciting that players from our region can now see a clear and complete pathway from their home town and junior club to the elite levels of our great game.

“Currently we have under-16, under-18s, under-21s and under-19 women but still our kids are leaving earlier to pursue their dreams of playing HostPlus Cup and onto the NRL.

“Now are best kids are going to stay.”

The Clydesdales have worked tirelessly with the QRL throughout the past 18-months with a focus on identifying and implementing the administrative, development and commercial structures needed to support a viable club.

Had their current bid been unsuccessful they would have to wait at least another five years before applying again.

“The southwest region is immersed in rugby league history and today’s announcement marks the start of an exciting new chapter for the Clydesdales,” QRL statewide competitions director Darryl Van de Velde said.

“The Clydesdales entry is aligned to recommendations from the 2021 QRL statewide competitions review which identified the southwest area as a priority for expansion.”

With 7000 playing participants, the Clydesdales have an impressive footprint which extends across 11 junior and senior local league competitions.

With their bid given the green light, Mr Coonan said the real hard work begins now.

“The next step is getting money,” he said.

“Now it’s about securing sponsorship, getting sponsorship for 2023 and stitching up long term sponsorship deals.

“It’s also about working really hard on a long term sustainable model.

“We can’t just keep relying on sponsorship and grants.

“The best example is the Redcliffe Dolphins and their recent bid.”

Canterbury Bulldogs Academy coach Blake Mara, Western Clydesdales chairman Tony Coonan and former Clydesdales player Doug Muir celebrate the Clydesdales return to the HostPlus Cup. Picture: Nev Madsen.

PATHWAY TO NRL

The Clydesdales HostPlus Cup return is key to the NRL aspirations of the south west Queensland’s junior rugby league players.

The club’s affiliation with Canterbury means there is now a clear path from grassroots junior competitions to representative Clydesdales junior football, HostPlus action and then the NRL.

“We’re really excited. We will have some of our junior academies up and running (in the next 6-8 months) in the region,” Blake Mara, who heads the Bulldogs SWQ satellite player development program, said.

“It’s all about providing local kids opportunities without the need to move (away) prematurely and put themselves under pressure.

“It allows younger players the chance to develop rugby league but also develop off the field in the comfort of their own home.”

Looking to the future there’s a good chance Bulldogs and other NRL calibre players could line up for the Clydesdales.

As well as helping raise the level of competition, Mr Mara believes watching and playing alongside elite players will inspire the club’s other players.

“In anything if you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel it’s hard to take that next step,” he said.

“Having something to look at is really important.

“It will be great for our local players to literally have a living breathing example potentially running around on the field next to them.

“To be able to look over on the field and say that’s where I want to get to is what makes this news so exciting.”

DREAM COME TRUE

There’s been a ‘hole’ in Dough Muir’s heart for more than 15 years.

The former Clydesdales player has dreamt of the club’s return to elite level league and now it’s a reality.

“I’ve been a shattered man because we haven’t had a team in the cup for so long,” he said.

“To stand here now and know we are in the HostPlus Cup is overwhelmingly satisfying.

“I really believe in this area, the Western Corridor, there’s a lot of supporters of the Clydesdales brand.

“To see it back in, now the moment has arrived, we’re issuing a call to arms asking people to support it however they can.”

COMP RE-ENTRY LONG OVERDUE

The reintroduction of the Clydesdales into the Hostplus Cup will finally give Toowoomba the rugby league representation it deserves after 17 years in the wilderness, according to the city’s economic and political leaders.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Ali Davenport (below) has praised Friday’s announcement, which will see the city host a team in the competition for the first time since 2006.

Ms Davenport said the move would not only deliver an economic boost to the region, but give southwest Queensland players a genuine and long-overdue pathway to the NRL.

“In terms of the ability to keep talented young people here it is paramount,” she said.

“It’s about our pathways for rugby league because the Hostplus Cup is the feeder cup for the NRL.

“If we don’t have a team here, we lose them to other regions.

“We’re the largest region without a team — smaller centres have a team so this is fantastic news.”

RTSBE CEO Ali Davenport and Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio.

Mayor Paul Antonio said the Clydesdales’ entry into the competition would only re-enforce the need for a larger stadium in Toowoomba.

“I do hope, when we do get the appropriate stadium, it will be brings some big games to this community,” he said.

“Major rugby league games in Toowoomba would be fantastic and would instil a lot of pride in the community.

“Now is the opportunity for us to make the most of it because Toowoomba is a breeding ground for rugby league.”

Toowoomba has hosted two NRL games since 2018, most recently between the Dragons and Roosters last year.