The extraordinary commitment and passion of the state’s emerging rugby league talent was at the forefront of today’s Queensland Rugby League season launch.
Fifteen Hostplus Cup teams and 12 BMD Premiership teams were represented by seasoned campaigners and emerging stars, who are eager to unlock their true potential in 2025.
The back stories of some of these players was told through the release of today’s season lunch video featuring Rhemy Hinckesman, George Fai and Lennox Whaiapu.
View the Statewide Competitions season launch video here.
Hinckesman, who made her debut in the BMD Premiership for the Sunshine Coast Falcons last season, is again putting in hours of toil ahead of the new season.
Caloundra-based Hinckesman is never one to miss a session, juggling her training commitments with work at Caboolture Hospital.
Like Hinckesman, Norths Devils enforcer George Fai has a similar story.
Fai works for Bradnam’s Windows and Doors, in the warehouse depot, where the father of three starts each morning at 4.30am.
A good night’s sleep is always needed, but sometimes not easy to get, with Fai adding regular gym and training sessions to his work and family commitments each week.
Young gun Whaiapu is only in the early years of his rugby league journey, but already it is built around hard work and sacrifice.
A prop forward for the Burleigh Bears in the Cyril Connel Cup (presented by Ford), Whaiapu attends high school at Keebra Park.
A standard week day involves a 6am morning session, before leaving for school at 8am.
After the final school bell, it is a 30 minute drive to Bears training, where Whaiapu and his teammates rip into their work.
The 2025 Hostplus Cup season starts on the weekend of March 8-9, with the grand final re-match between the Norths Devils and Redcliffe Dolphins a highlight of the opening round.
This year’s BMD Premiership begins in June and will feature competition newcomers the Ipswich Jets and Northern Pride.
QRL chair Brian Canavan today acknowledged the outstanding contribution of the competing clubs.
Our clubs are the flagship of our league,
Brian Canavan QRL Chair
“They’re the ones who have prominence in the community. They deliver quality male and female programs and have a proven record of producing players, coaches, administrators and performance and medical staff.”
The QRL's premier livestreaming platform Qplus.tv is back bigger and better in 2025, with every game live and on demand via Qplus.tv.
