Queensland Rugby League has paid tribute to its volunteers, club leaders and community team members who have helped deliver one of the biggest seasons on record.
The positive momentum has continued off the field, with insurance premiums and the QRL administration levy to remain unchanged for the 2027 season, helping keep rugby league accessible and affordable for clubs and participants across Queensland.
Registrations for the new season open on December 7.
Overall, there was a 5.48 per cent rise in participation this year with the total number of registered club players reaching 73,955.
The latest participation figures follow the conclusion of junior and senior competitions across the QRL South East, Central and North regions, where community spirit and club pride were at the forefront of grand final celebrations across Queensland.
It also comes as thousands of Queenslanders enjoy the spirit of the Rugby League World Cup, supporting the international game in matches played in Brisbane, Townsville and the Gold Coast.
QRL General Manager of Community Rugby League Adam Vanzanten said the participation growth highlighted the strength of the community game.
“Rugby league truly is Queensland’s game,” Vanzanten said.
“More and more Queenslanders are enjoying their rugby league experience every year and this is a reflection of the commitment of many hard working and passionate people who continually turn up to create welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable rugby league environments.
“We are grateful for the support of QRL community and National Rugby League staff, as well as more than 23,000 volunteers who are the heartbeat of our great game.
“Rugby league has a unique ability to bring people and communities together – and we’ve just got another great reminder about that after seeing what each club jersey means to players, coaches and fans during the grand final days across the state.”
Having surpassed 70,000 registered players for a second consecutive year, Vanzanten said it was also important to reflect on the game's recent growth trajectory.
“The game has certainly come a long way since 2020, when there were 56,000 registered players who were able to get on the field in line with Return to Play COVID-Safe guidelines,” he said.
“Retention rates are up in many key participation sectors, which is testament to the clubs and leagues who have embraced the NRL’s Player Development Framework, a game-wide initiative focused on fostering both participation and personal development.”
Vanzanten said female participation had grown by nearly 12 per cent.
“We have more females than ever entering the sport in the tackle ready ages at Under 6s and 7s, starting with tag, followed by the tackle program where everyone gets to tackle and be tackled safely,” Vanzanten said.
“We have 1394 females seven and under, representing a 24.46% increase on last year’s total.
“With new female tackle age groups in places like Brisbane, we have a large increase in females aged 10-12. There was a 23.63% increase in females registered in this age in South East Queensland.”
Registrations for the 2027 season open on December 7.
Queensland Participation Overview
· 73,955 participants*
(+5.48%) 2026 v 2025 total
· 13,559 Female participants
(+11.82%)
· 60,396 Male participants
(+4.16%)
· 23,031 Volunteers
(+3.44%)
*Registered club players
