Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League A grade club-by-club preview

An expanded Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League A grade men's competition is all set to kick off this weekend.

Stanley River Wolves will be hoping to make their mark on the competition in their entry to A grade in the milestone 50th year for the club.

But it's not just a one-off for the occasion, there's a much bigger picture at play as forward James 'Cocky' Cochran sees first hand.

The Wolves are part of his DNA with his dad James (aka Jim) once a player and his younger brother Cohen on the rise playing Cyril Connell Cup for Redcliffe Dolphins this season.

It's Cohen and his mates in a talented crop of under 16s - which James coaches - who have been the inspiration for Stanley River to set their foundations in A grade.

"Last year the thought of it came up and we’ve got a lot of juniors coming through that are good footy players, local boys, but obviously once they get to that 17-18 stage, there’s was only reggies there and they’re going to look for better opportunities," Cochran said.

“My little brother is fully dedicated to footy and I just try to help him wherever I can, but it’s not just him mate, that whole 16s squad, they’re all good players and a really good team, so they’re the main reason we wanted to get into A grade."

Cochrane has more than 100 senior games under his belt - often playing under 18s and seniors on the same day to satisfy his love for the game - but with the step up and the class coming into the club "no spot is guaranteed".

Key players joining the cause include BRL-experienced half Kane Zalewski, who led Dayboro Cowboys to an unbeaten season in Rugby League Brisbane Division 1 last year and former Redcliffe Dolphins Hostplus Cup forward Taylor Brown and bench utility Benjamin King.

“We’ve got a few key players come in, plenty of experience in Kane, Taylor and Kingy, who’ve had plenty of experience in Q Cup and BRL and we’re a proud club, very passionate club about our footy and we don’t exactly have a heap of players to pick from at times, but what we lack in numbers we make up for in heart, so the vibes are real high, we’re really excited

The excitement among former players was palpable when the club held a season launch to commemorate their milestone year, and Cochrane hopes they can stay competitive and set a good base for the future.

Some wins over closest rivals Caboolture and Beerwah wouldn't go astray either.

Stanley River will take on highly-fancied Coolum Colts in their opening game of the season at Woodford Showground on Saturday, starting at 5.30pm.

Here's how the clubs are lining up for season 2024.

Nambour Crushers

Coach: Martin Cordwell

Captain: Martin Cordwell (pictured)

Signings/retains: Kevin Campbell, Hugo Lescouzeres (France), Jaiden Zanchetta, Phil Dennis, Eion Bowie (England)

Player losses: Nathan Saumalu, Jack Sproat, Luke Blumke, Robert Cordwell

How will your team improve in 2024?

We are looking to improve both our attacking and defensive for and against.

What can fans expect from your game style? 

Fast style of football and tough standards.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Beerwah – they are the defending champions and are a strong football team.

Coolum Colts

Coach: Matt Smith

Captain: Luke Philp

Signings/retains: Seaton Reid (Maroochydore), Samuel Pinomi (retirement), Dan Moevao (Noosa), Nathan Saumalu (Nambour), Yamba Bowie (Moranbah)

Player losses: Hsed Faaee (Easts Tigers), Zion Watling (NZ Warriors NSW Cup)

How will your team improve in 2024?

The club has recruited really well in the off season with a lot more strike power in our backline and some more quality forwards. From the learnings of our launch season in 2023, we’ve added a lot of experience to our side.

What can fans expect from your game style?

A fast up-tempo style of footy as well as our strong line of defence.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Beerwah will have a big target on their back again this year coming off their unbeaten season last year. They have lost a few key players but Beerwah have built a winning culture there the last few years so they will be there again this year. Maroochydore will also be another one with a target on them.

Caloundra Sharks 

Coach: Craig Cleary 

Captain: Ethan Gaffney (pictured)

Signings/retains: Alex Williams (BRL), Travis Coyne (BRL), Rajan Opetaia-Halls (Noosa), Kurtis Shayler, Rueben Olive

Player losses: Chris Ainsworth (Beerwah), Moses Uluiti (retired), Tayler McCann

How will your team improve in 2024?

The main emphasis through preseason has been making sure the players are fit and flexible to help with our depth. Player welfare and injury prevention are our top priority. Patience and keeping the boys on the paddock is paramount to our season. 

What can fans expect from your game style?

We have built a tough experienced forward pack this year to lay a foundation for our powerful, explosive outside backs. I expect to see some patient, confident attack and a big improvement in our defence. 

Who is the team to beat and why?

We have to beat them all but with so much movement amongst the competition it's really hard to tell until the season kicks off. Most clubs have trialled strong so expect an exciting comp and any club could win on their day. 

Stanley River Wolves

Coach: Ethan Szendrey 

Captains: Kane Zalewski & Taylor Brown (pictured)

Player gains: Kane Zalewski (Dayboro BRL), Taylor Brown (Redcliffe Dolphins), Benjamin King (Redcliffe Dolphins), Alex Clegg (Newcastle Thunder, UK), Kora Lega (Coolum Colts), Adam Otter (Caboolture)

Player losses: Tony Ainsworth (retired), Dean Lude (retired), John Snow (retired)

What can fans expect from your game style?

We won’t change our DNA, so we will be a hard fought side in every game. Expect solid defence with a never say die attitude, with some really good strike across the paddock.

Who is the team to beat?

I think it will be a really strong competitive competition but I think Coolum will be the team everyone is hunting this year as they have recruited really well and weren’t far off the pace last year, even though the position on the ladder said otherwise. You can’t count out Beerwah being the reigning undefeated premiers either.

Noosa Pirates

Coach: Michael Duff

Captain: Kris Williams (pictured)

Signings/retains: Brody Baker (Brighton Roosters), Matt Craven (Bundaberg Brothers), Jackson Ricotta (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Rohan Messer, Patrick McGinn, Harry Dwyer

Player losses: Dan Moevao (Coolum), Rajan Opetaia-Halls (Caloundra), Rod Davies (retired)

How will your team improve in 2024?

We have built a lot of depth in the club over the past 12 months with quality juniors coming through and key signings. Our A grade squad has had a fantastic preseason and had a solid trial game beating Souths Toowoomba 24-6. Consistency in the starting line-up is where we need to improve. Too many injuries cost us in 2023. 

What can fans expect from your game style?

Fast. We need to play up tempo to compete against sides like Beerwah and Kawana.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Beerwah were amazing last year. To win a competition undefeated that’s special. They will set the benchmark again this year. 

Caboolture Snakes

Coach: Jamie Floss

Captain: Tim Tupou (pictured)

Signings/retains: Tim Tupou (Wynnum Manly BRL), Josh Jansen (Wynnum Manly BRL), Steven Reynolds (Wests Panthers BRL), Alex Crust (Brighton Roosters BRL), Hunter Smallhorn (year off)

Player losses: Aaron Nelson (year off), Luke Ford (year off), Adam Otter (Stanley River), Gareth Friedrich (Wests Panthers), Mitch Buckett (retired)

How will your team improve in 2024?

We have been focussing on doing the footy basics right and playing simple, uncomplicated football. We have had a strong fitness focus with an emphasis on effort areas which will see us compete harder for longer. We feel that with our recruitment and retention we have a very balanced side that will be very competitive.

What can fans expect from your game style?

We will be tough, hard and uncompromising. We will compete hard in all aspects of the game and stay in the grind for the full 80 minutes.

Who is the team to beat and why?

We feel it would be a bit disrespectful to single out one team as the team to beat. We believe that it will be a very strong competition and every team is a threat. We won’t be taking any team lightly.

Beerwah Bulldogs

Coach: Brett Hill

Captain: Matt Kidd

Signings/retains: Tom Dwan (Mackay), Damian Forde-Hurrell, Rowan Jardine, Kyle Shearton

Player losses: Duncan Ellis (Banyo), Eseta Fangaloka (Burleigh), Jamie Hill, Matt Baker (Falcons) Wyatt Reynolds (Norths), Blake Hill

How will your team improve in 2024?

I'd like to say we'll be a little bit more consistent, but we've got a lot of new blokes coming through and they're going to have to lift their standard a bit. I would have to say consistency in defence.

What can fans expect from your game style?

We won't change a real lot. If you control the footy, you control the game. But we've got some flashy backs, so we will throw it around a little bit.

Who is the team to beat and why?

You've got your mainstays like Maroochydore and Kawana, but there is a bit of a whisper that Coolum might be the side to beat this year because they've bought well.

Kawana Dolphins

Coach: Chris Corbett

Captain: Luke McBeth

Signings/retains: Jack Hayman (Canberra), Lachlan Woods (Norths), Elliott Smethills, Sam Reid, Tom Reid

Player losses: Ryan Jeffery (Blacktown Workers), Adam Sutton (retired), Phil Taylor (retired), James Sumpton (retired), Liam Taylor

How will your team improve in 2024?

Win the grand final. We've got a young side, so we're rebuilding that but we'll limit our mistakes and play simple football basically, limit our errors. 

What can fans expect from your game style?

Being a young side we'll have a bit of ball movement, but I don't want to throw too much out there.

Who is the team to beat and why?

There's not going to be an easy game this year. A lot of teams have done some good recruiting. Coolum will be up there.

Maroochydore Swans

Signings/retains: Saige Yasso (Bulimba BRL), Michael Egan (former Wests Panthers BRL), Jarwin Blackman (Yandina), Hayden Moore (Yandina), Jason Wardrop, Leon Taylor

Player losses: Blake Bella (Clermont), Seaton Reid (Nambour)