Queensland’s rugby league community is rallying together once again after floods rocked the state and left homes, businesses and clubs inundated.
Days of intense rainfall and storms led to flooding across Queensland’s southeast in the final days of February, from Maryborough down to the NSW border.
Around 15,000 homes were hit by floodwaters in Brisbane alone, with the Brisbane River continuing to peak.
And rugby league clubs across the southeast were not immune to the damage, with some still cut off to access as waters continue to recede.
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
1/22
An aerial shot of the inundated field at Stanley River Rugby League Football Club. Photo: Stanley River Rugby League Football Club Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
2/22
The clean up begins at Stanley River Rugby League Football Club. Photo: Stanley River Rugby League Football Club Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
3/22
The clean up begins at Stanley River Rugby League Football Club. Photo: Stanley River Rugby League Football Club Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
4/22
The clean up begins at Stanley River Rugby League Football Club. Photo: Stanley River Rugby League Football Club Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
5/22
Goodna Juniors surrounded by floodwaters on Monday February 28. Photo: Goodna Juniors Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
6/22
Fields at Caboolture Snakes completely inundated by water. Photo: Caboolture Snakes Senior RLC Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
7/22
Fields at Caboolture Snakes completely inundated by water. Photo: Caboolture Snakes Senior RLC Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
8/22
The floodwaters near the top of the interchange bench at Easts Mt Gravatt on February 25. Photo: Easts Mt Gravatt Jrlfc Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
9/22
The floodwaters receded and then returned on February 27. Photo: Easts Mt Gravatt Jrlfc
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
10/22
The floodwaters at Easts Mt Gravatt. Photo: Easts Mt Gravatt Jrlfc
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
11/22
The floodwaters at Easts Mt Gravatt. Photo: Easts Mt Gravatt Jrlfc
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
12/22
The floodwaters at Easts Mt Gravatt. Photo: Easts Mt Gravatt Jrlfc
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
13/22
Gympie's Albert Park underwater. Photo: Gympie Junior Rugby League Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
14/22
Gympie's Albert Park underwater. Photo: Gympie Junior Rugby League Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
15/22
Gympie's Jack Stokes Oval underwater. Photo: Gympie Junior Rugby League Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
16/22
Flooding at Pine Rivers Bears. Photo: Pine Rivers Bears Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
17/22
Flooding at Pine Rivers Bears. Photo: Pine Rivers Bears Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
18/22
Floodwaters start to swallow the fields at North Ipswich Tigers. Photo: North Ipswich Tigers Senior RLFC
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
19/22
Floodwaters start to swallow the fields at North Ipswich Tigers. Photo: North Ipswich Tigers Senior RLFC
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
20/22
The damage to the clubhouse at North Ipswich Tigers. Photo: North Ipswich Tigers Senior RLFC
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
21/22
Brothers St Brendan's at Rocklea starts to go under. Photo: Brothers St Brendan's Junior Rugby League Facebook
In pictures: Floods hit our clubs
22/22
Brothers St Brendan's at Rocklea starts to go under. Photo: Brothers St Brendan's Junior Rugby League Facebook
Iconic rugby league venue, Suncorp Stadium, was once again hit with floodwaters – similar to 2011 – and will now face a race against time to get the field ready for the Brisbane Broncos’ Round 1 clash with South Sydney on Friday March 11.
Meanwhile, countless community and Hostplus Cup clubs and venues have had their fields and facilities become inundated with water.
But already that famous Queenslander spirit is proving to be alive and well, as people band together to not only start the clean-up but take in those who have been left without homes, food or clothes.
Clubs across the central and southeast regions have begun to put out calls for help on social media, with volunteers quick to roll up their sleeves.
Mustangs Brothers Rugby League Football Club at Chambers Flat offered up their clubhouse as an urgent evacuation point on Sunday February 27 while Stanley River RLFC on the Sunshine Coast felt the kindness of community spirit as they began their clean up on March 1.
Meanwhile, Brothers St Brendan’s in Rocklea have announced they will host a working bee on Saturday March 5, not just so volunteers can get the club back up and running, but to support the club’s neighbours through this difficult time.
Brothers St Brendan's will host a working bee this weekend, not just for their club but their neighbourhood. Photo: Brothers St Brendan's Facebook
There will no doubt be more calls for help and stories of bravery and kindness that emerge from these devastating floods.
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
