Focus on people and growth with launch of QRL Strategic Framework 2023-2027
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Queensland Rugby League is thrilled to unveil its new Strategic Framework that will target future growth and greater accessibility for all over the next five years.
As a custodian of the game, the QRL is uniquely positioned to facilitate programs and initiatives that will drive growth and engagement across community rugby league and high performance and pathways.
QRL chief executive officer Rohan Sawyer said the release of the framework marked an exciting chapter “for our people, who are the core of what we do”.
“The framework is designed to have ambitious targets of significant growth across our game, and just as importantly, high levels of community impact,” Sawyer said.
“Instead of adopting a set five-year plan, we’ve designed a framework that allows us to be dynamic and agile in an ever-changing world. This will help us meet the needs of our stakeholders, with a greater focus on what’s most important right now for each stakeholder.
“Each year, we will formulate a ‘QRL Game Plan’ to ensure we operationalise key opportunities... this approach will allow us to annually prioritise what is important to ultimately build the blocks that achieve our five year targets.”
The framework is underpinned by the QRL’s vision to build "a game that unites, excites and inspires all Queenslanders to have a deep connection to rugby league and their community".
Sawyer said the QRL was proud to have led the way in many areas, including strong governance and the historic appointment of three highly credentialed women to the QRL Board in a move aligned to the QRL Female Strategy and the continued growth in the female game.
“Here at the QRL, we’re proud of the fact that we are here to shape the delivery of the game from community rugby league to the elite level game,” Sawyer said.
“This includes many facets, from upskilling coaches, referees and volunteers, to how the game is marketed, promoted, consumed and enjoyed across the state.
“It is a well-known fact how competitive the grassroots sporting market is across Queensland.
“With just under 65,000 rugby league players across the state playing in 370 clubs in 447 active competitions, rugby league is looking strong.
“But now is not the time to be complacent. We need more investment in the game than ever to be competitive against the other codes — both male and female.”
Some of the achievements from the last five years outlined in the Strategic Framework include:
- QRL participation grew 4.75 per cent year on year in 2022 to a total of 64,566 players – the highest in a decade
- QRL extended its commitment to the RISE Rugby League development program, with 2066 participants taking part in 22 specialised player development programs across the state
- Queensland achieved exponential growth in participation numbers in the women’s game with 9455 players registered in 2022, an increase of 20 per cent on 2021
- Female pathways and development was strengthened with the creation of an expanded full-time role, and elite female players who played for the Queensland Maroons earned $15,000 — the same amount as the men’s State of Origin match fee
- Seven QRL staff graduated from the Accelerating Women Executives’ program
“The QRL is well positioned and equipped to ensure the game goes from strength-to-strength, but it needs the funding support of the ARLC,” Sawyer said.
“This support will ensure that the development of the game continues to prosper both in the city and the bush and we continue to produce the champions of tomorrow.”
