Redcliffe’s resurgence

A win over Tweed Heads at Dolphin Oval this Saturday will see Redcliffe claim the Intrust Super Cup minor premiership and with the FOGS Colts Challenge team sitting in second spot behind Wynnum Manly; the peninsular club have wrapped up this year’s club championship silverware.

And that’s not even taking into account the fact the Brisbane Rugby League A Grade team finished one point off the minor premiership.

When CEO Grant Cleal steps forward to accept the honour at next Wednesday night’s gala awards night, it will be a great source of pride.

On page one of Redcliffe’s strategic plan, it states their primary objective is to win premierships.

So, for a club with the history of success that Redcliffe have enjoyed – missing the finals in three successive seasons has left a bitter taste in the mouth.

Former Broncos coach Anthony Griffin was appointed as head coach to take over from Troy Lindsay, but when Griffin was approached by Phil Gould to take charge at the Panthers – Redcliffe's playing group conducted their first session of the pre-season minus a head coach.

However, it didn’t take long to appoint another highly credentialed coach, with Redcliffe connection Adam Mogg (also a former Queensland Origin star to boot) did an exceptional job in guiding his team through a difficult start to the season.

With stage one of Dolphin Oval’s extensive makeover taking place, Redcliffe were on the road for seven of their first nine games of the year. However, their five wins in that time set them up for a late season charge.

Their only loss in their past 13 games has been a one-point thriller against Wynnum Manly, so when the Western Grandstand has its official unveiling this Saturday night with the minor premiership on the line, Cleal is confident it will go close to its 3500-seat capacity.

“In 2012 we finished minor premiers and had all three grades (Cup, FOGS and FOGS Colts) at Suncorp on grand final day and so even though we didn’t quite get the job done that we wanted to get done, that was a fantastic year for us,” Cleal said.

“In the years after that, we missed the semis every year and we've certainly noticed over that time a drop in crowds and people through the gate.

“There’s an expectation on our club to be successful and we feel that expectation every day and when we're not successful it doesn't feel right.”

Guaranteed a top two finish regardless of results this weekend, Dolphin Oval will host a major semi-final in Week 2 of the finals series.

When the season comes to a close, work will begin on the upgrade of the eastern stand along with a resurfacing of the playing field.

Recent host of the Australian Schoolboys Test against England, Dolphin Oval shapes as a potential home for the Peninsula Power soccer team who hope to push into state soccer league and will again be the home of the annual Queensland Murri carnival.

Cleal said the club hopes the venue will become a facility utilised by a community that has been so supportive of their endeavours and stand as a symbol that this proud club will continue to be a force into the future.

“Page one in our mission statement is to win premierships, it doesn't say win club championships,” Cleal said.

“But from an administrator’s point of view, if you win that club championship, that means you've got the right players, the right staff and your club's moving in the right direction.

“It's been going a long time that club championship. I know Wynnum were really proud when they won it for the first time a couple of years ago, Easts definitely like winning it and it's something we set out to win every year.”

In 2016, Redcliffe will stand proud again as Queensland's champion club.

A former editor of Big League, Tony Webeck is the Chief Queensland Correspondent for NRL.com.