Statewide preview: A Grade footy is back

The Magpies will be coached by local legend Phil Dennis – who holds the impressive record for most Hostplus Cup games played – and will be a feeder to his old club, Souths Logan.

Dennis, who is also going to play for Souths Junior, took on the coaching reins for the Rosewood Jets A grade side last season and said he has always wanted to move into a mentoring role eventually.

“I was approached by Souths Junior at the end of last year and took on the BRL job,” Dennis said.

“Coaching is definitely something I thought about throughout my rugby league career. The idea was to finish my career the way I’d like at Souths Logan and move into coaching. Unfortunately it didn’t happen that way, but I wanted to test out whether it was my thing.

“Anyone who goes into coaching after playing, they know there’s a lot more to coaching than there is to playing. It’s a big commitment but it’s been good so far.

“We’ve had to form this club from scratch, which is hard in itself, and you just hope you get players along the way. But we have a team now that we can count on week in, week out.”

With the amount of work that’s gone into getting Souths Junior Magpies ready for season 2022, Dennis has set some high standards for what he expects.

He has signed Shar Walden from the Ipswich Jets and former Souths Logan forward Simione Fatafehi, as well as a number of young players that Dennis is working with to ensure they’re well-equipped to move onto the Hostplus Cup level if the opportunity ever arises.

Dennis is also looking to bring some “unpredictability” to this year’s competition, having learnt from the best at the Ipswich Jets.

“With what we’ve got, we should be aiming for and reaching finals football,” Dennis said.

“That will be our goal. Hopefully we play well enough that we can then make the grand final. But definitely it’s about finals for us, first and foremost.”

Main image by Vanessa Hafner.

South East region

BRL Premier A Grade

Starts: Saturday March 26

Teams: Beenleigh Pride, Brighton Roosters, Bulimba Bulldogs, Carina Tigers, Normanby Hounds, Pine Rivers Bears, Souths, Valleys Diehards, Wests Brisbane Panthers, Wynnum Manly Juniors.

QTOP Premiership - Gold Coast

Starts: Sunday March 27

Teams: Burleigh Bears, Currumbin Eagles, Helensvale Hornets, Mudgeeraba Redbacks, Ormeau Shearers, Runaway Bay Seagulls, Southport Tigers, Tugun Seahawks.

A Grade Premiership – Ipswich

Starts: April 2-3

Teams: To be finalised.

South East Queensland Women

Starts: April 30-May 1

Teams: To be finalised.

Central region

Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba Men’s Premiership

Starts: April 2-3

Teams: Dalby Diehards, Gatton Hawks, Goondiwindi Boars, Highfields Eagles, Newtown Lions, Oakey Bears, Pittsworth Danes, Southern Suburbs Tigers, Toowoomba Brothers, Valleys Roosters, Warwick Cowboys, Wattles Warriors.

Toowoomba Sports Club Women's Premiership

Starts: April 2-3

Teams: Dalby Diehards, Gatton Hawks, Goondiwindi Boars, Highfields Eagles, Newtown Lions, Oakey Bears, Pittsworth Danes, Toowoomba Brothers, Valleys Roosters.

Maudsley Excavations Cup Men - Sunshine Coast

Starts: Saturday April 2

Teams: Beerwah Bulldogs, Caboolture Snakes, Caloundra Sharks, Gympie Devils, Kawana Dolphins, Maroochydore Swans, Nambour Crushers, Noosa Pirates

Maudsley Excavations Cup Women – Sunshine Coast

Starts: Saturday April 2

Teams: Beerwah Bulldogs, Caboolture Snakes, Caloundra Sharks, Gympie Devils, Kawana Dolphins, Nambour Crushers, Noosa Pirates.

4BU/HITZ FM Bundaberg A Grade Premiership

Starts: Saturday March 26

Teams: Easts Magpies, Hervey Bay Seagulls, Past Brothers Bundaberg, Wallaroo Maryborough, Waves Tigers, Wests Panthers.

Rockhampton Rugby League

Starts: April 1-3

Teams: Bileola Panthers, Emu Park Emus, Fitzroy/Gracemere Sharks, Gladstone Brothers, Gladstone Wallaby RLFC, Norths Chargers, Rockhampton Brothers, Tannum Sand Seagulls, Yeppoon Seagulls.

Rockhampton Rugby League Women’s

Starts: TBC

Teams: Emu Park Emus, Fitzroy/Gracemere Sharks, Gladstone Wallaby RLFC, Norths Chargers, Rockhampton Brothers, Tannum Sands Seagulls, Yeppoon Seagulls.

Central Highlands Emerald Industrial Supplies Men's Premiership 

Starts: Friday April 1

Teams: Blackwater Crushers, Bluff Rabbitohs, Clermont Bears, Dysart Bulls, Emerald Brothers, Emerald Tigers, Middlemount Panthers, Springsure Mountain Men

Central Highlands Fair Dinkum Fresh Women’s Premiership

Starts: Saturday March 26

Teams: Blackwater Crushettes, Bluff Rabbitohs, Emerald Brothers, Emerald Tigers

Northern Districts Rugby League

Starts: April 8-10

Teams: To be finalised.

South Burnett Rugby League

Starts: TBC

Teams: To be finalised.

Central Burnett Rugby League

Starts: Saturday April 23

Teams: To be finalised.

Roma and District Rugby League

Starts: April 9-10

Teams: Chinchilla Bulldogs, Miles Devils, Mitchell Magpies, Roma Cities Gladiators, Saint George & Wallumbilla Surat Red Bulls, Western Ringers.

Central West Rugby League

Starts: April 22-24

Teams: To be finalised.

North region

Mackay Men’s

Starts: April 2-3

Teams: To be finalised.

Mackay Women's

Starts: April 2-3

Teams: To be finalised.

Townsville and District Rugby League Men’s

Starts: TBC

Teams: To be finalised.

Townsville and District Rugby League Women

Starts: April 2

Teams: Burdekin Roosters, Centrals ASA Tigers, Charters Towers Miners, Herbert River Crushers, Norths Devils, Townsville Brothers, Western Lions.

Mount Isa Rugby League

Starts: April 23-24

Teams: To be finalised.

Mount Isa Rugby League Women's

Starts: April 23-24

Teams: To be finalised.

CDRL A Grade

Starts: Saturday March 26

Teams: Atherton Roosters, Cairns Brothers, Cairns Kangaroos, Edmonton Storm, Innisfail Brothers, Ivanhoe Knights, Mareeba Gladiators, Mossman Sharks, Southern Suburbs Cockatoos, Tully Tigers, Yarrabah Seahawks.