2025 BMD Premiership season pushed back to run in line with NRLW

One of Queensland’s elite rugby league competitions is set for a massive overhaul to bring it in line with its national counterpart. Find out how the QRL BMD Premiership will change here.

Ali Brigginshaw for the Western Clydesdales against the Central Queensland Capras during the 2024 BMD Premiership season. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The BMD women’s Premiership is set to undergo a massive change in 2025 with the season pushed back to run more in line with the NRLW season.

The QRL confirmed the season will run at a similar time to the NRLW but could not provide any further details yet.

Along with impacting the BMD Premiership squads, which have previously had several NRLW players competing in the lead-up to the NRLW campaign, coaches will also be affected.

One of the parties most impacted by this change is inaugural Western Clydesdales BMD Premiership head coach Mitch Sargent.

Fresh off the back of a “life-changing” experience as assistant coach of the Wests Tigers NRLW side, the Clydesdales coach is set to face one of the toughest decisions in his coaching career.

The proposed changes mean Sargent will no longer be able to coach the Clydesdales at the beginning of the year before heading south for the NRLW season like he did this year.

While he has yet to decide on which way he will go, Sargent knows he will have to bid farewell to a side which has brought him unforgettable memories in such a short period of time.

“It’s a tough decision, I’ve had a couple of deep conversations and probably a couple of worrying sleepless nights at the moment because I will have to make it in the next week or so,” he said.

“Whatever decision it will be, it’s going to be tough to leave something behind, but I will just make sure the decision is right for my life at the moment.

“If it is to move on, I’ll know that the girls and the staff will continue on the legacy to build and we’ll still have the hardest working team.

“That’s the only thing I want is for them to have fun and enjoy it and hopefully we get a couple more down in the NRLW system because of it.”

Sargent shed light on the special experience he had with the Tigers in his first NRLW campaign this year.

“(It was) absolutely life-changing, not only what I learned through the rugby league knowledge but meeting some very special people at the club here at the Wests Tigers,” he said.

Western Clydesdales coach Mitch Sargent. Picture: Benny Hassum Photography

“The playing group has been phenomenal, we didn’t get obviously the results all season long but to finish the last three weeks and especially the last two with two wins was unreal to see.

“The girls went through a 14-game losing streak so to see them break that was one of the special parts of the longer journey, I am just proud to be there with them.”

The Tigers’ round 8 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons broke a 410-day drought and Sargent revealed his pride in the team as their long hours on the training ground were made worthwhile.

“It was just pleasing to see that they worked so hard, we’ve got a really young playing group here and they worked really hard over summer,” he said.

“Sometimes at this elite level of sport you just need to learn by playing and unfortunately we don’t have the time to do that and so the girls’ last month of the competition we really changed our mindset and to see them get the wins in the last two weeks was absolutely extraordinary.”

The 2024 campaign was surreal for Sargent as he coached alongside Wests head coach Brett Kimmorley – who he idolised as a child.

Wests Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley looks on before the start of the round seven NRLW match between North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Photo: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“Noddy (Kimmorley) was my favourite player growing up as a kid,” Sargent said.

“I used to have a poster on my bedroom wall with Noddy and then to coach alongside him and call him a mate was for me personally was such a 360 moment.

“But the biggest thing I’ve learned with him, the game at each level, the game of rugby league doesn’t change.

“It is just making sure you know your players really well and to see what motivates every player to jump on and be the best teammate and best team that we could possibly be.

“That’s the secret to coaching other than he’s got a really fun side Noddy as well which helps lighten the mood at training.

“Especially at the time when I came in when they were in a bit of a losing streak.

“It was really important to see that it’s not all what you probably see on TV, the yelling and screaming.

“You got to create an environment that you want players to learn and grow and want to come to training – that’s the most important thing.”

While the NRLW season was a new experience and environment for the Clydesdales coach, he was welcomed by some familiar faces, with Clydesdales stars Tara Reinke, Kezie Apps and Leianne Tufuga all key members of the Tigers.

“It was a great connection that we have and I can wholeheartedly say Kezie’s the best person I’ve ever met in my life,” Sargent said.

Kezie Apps of the Western Clydesdales runs at Emmanita Paki of the Central Queensland Capras during the Clydesdales inaugural BMD Premiership game at Clive Berghofer Stadium. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Kezie’s unreal in what she does for the game both male and female and to inspire people, she’s one of the best.

“Whenever she does decide to finish (playing) I know she will go down as one of the best players that’s ever played rugby league.”

Sargent hopes his journey to the NRLW could provide an inspiration for aspiring rugby league coaches in the region who dream of coaching at the elite level.

“Rugby league is a game for everyone, that’s the best thing about it,” he said.

“I’ve sort of put on many hats in my short time being here, I have been a player, been an administrator and now being a coach – which I’ve always wanted to be.

“I hope that it does inspire some people to make sure that they’re doing it for the right reasons, they’re coaching for the love of the game, to help people grow and move forward.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned down here is it takes a lot to be a good footballer but it doesn’t take anything to be a good person.

“Be good, know your footy and something will happen.”

Sargent said whatever decision he does make, he knows he will be a better coach than ever thanks to his experience with Wests.

“I will continue to grow and that’s the most exciting thing now,” he said.

“Whatever I choose if I end up head coaching again it will be an experience that will continue to help me grow in my pathway.”