When Muhammad Ali would shout his charismatic, confident, and brash “the champ is here”, it was more than a boast; it was a direct proclamation of his superiority, frequently used to taunt opponents.
This weekend, ‘the champ is here’ will ring out across rugby league fields in Queensland for the first time in 2026.
The junior statewide competitions get underway, and everyone knows who the champs are in the Mal Meninga Cup, Cyril Connell Cup, Harvey Norman Under 19s and Harvey Norman Under 17s.
The two heavyweights are the Burleigh Bears in the Mal Meninga and the Cyril Connell; and across the Harvey Norman competitions, it’s the Brisbane Tigers.
In the Mal Meninga Cup, fans will have to wait another week to see the Bears start their title defence.
There are just two games this weekend, with the two Seagulls’ teams facing off on Sunday and the Souths Logan Magpies and the Tigers going up against each other on Saturday.
Souths will be Broncos heavy with Finn Kendall, Joseph Tupuse and Marley Igasan in the Magpies line up.
The Tigers could not ask for a more difficult start to the season and in a month’s time they will know exactly where they stand when they play four of the top five from 2025 in the first five weeks.
Contracted to the Perth Bears, the Tigers will be looking for a big try scoring season from winger Ryder Koia. Koia played eight Mal Meninga games for the Tigers last season.
In the Cyril Connell Cup, seven teams will start with the bye. Sitting back watching and waiting for round two will be the Bears, who won’t be in action until they play the Tigers on Valentine’s Day, and they won’t be bringing the Tigers any flowers or love.
The match of the round might be the Wynnum Seagulls and Tweed Head Seagulls at BMD Kougari Oval.
In the finals last year, Wynnum lost to the Bears but know they mixed it with the big boys all season.
Tweed only lost two games but in a short season two games is the difference between seventh and playing finals.
Wynnum fullback Barry Taukolo is back for his second season with the Seagulls. Taukolo played seven games for Wynnum and scored two tries to keep the Seagulls faithful on their feet with his runs back at the defence.
Tweed will be looking to forward leader Austin Desmond, who brings a no-nonsense approach to his front-row work. Desmond will be looking to build on his six games last season for Tweed.
In the Harvey Norman Under 19s, the Brisbane Tigers will be at home for a huge ‘Tiger Day’, with all four junior teams playing.
The Under 19s won the grand final in 2025 over Toowoomba Clydesdales 30-6 in a devastating display.
The Tigers will be looking to continue their path of destruction against the Magpies at home in round one.
Leading the charge is Lorren Ieli, a tone-setter and game-breaker who drags her teammates into the fight.
Charging through the middle with power, purpose, and zero fear, she’ll be the engine of the Tigers pack.
Enah Desic, already turning heads at the Gold Coast Titans, is the mastermind in motion.
Quick out of dummy-half, smart with the ball, and calm under pressure, she’ll control the tempo, pick apart tired defenders, and steer the Tigers around the park.
The Tigers haven’t lost a game since April 2024 and they won’t want to start on Saturday.
The road to NRLW starts with Harvey Norman Under 17 and that road will start at 10am on Saturday at Totally Work Wear Stadium where the Tigers will gather momentum towards their premiership defence against the Magpies.
Ava Watts-Luke is pure heart in human form. The smallest player on the field, but easily the bravest — she throws herself into contact without hesitation and runs like she’s got a never-ending fuel tank.
Watts-Luke is a constant danger, whether she’s sweeping in at fullback or flying down the wing.
When Te Ahurei Latu speaks, the team locks in. A natural leader, she doesn’t just talk — she sets the standard.
Charging through the middle for the Tigers, Latu’s toughness and work rate lifts everyone around her to another level.
The Magpies can build on 2025 with 11 players coming back for more Under 17 action.
The Magpies drew with the Tigers in the last round of 2025 and that cost them big time with the Magpies just missing out on finals.
Dynamic fullback Shyloh Tofae is shaping up as a breakout star — mostly because she seems to appear everywhere at once. One minute she’s under the high ball, the next she’s backing up in support.
After coming through the Bulldogs system and picking up rep honours, she’s now upgraded from “promising talent” to “opposition coaches losing sleep.”
In the halves, Marmie Nati is the chief organiser, traffic controller, and part-time magician.
She runs the game so calmly you’d think she’s got a remote control for everyone else. One second, she’s calling the plays, the next she’s slicing through the line herself.
