Queensland’s four NRL clubs – the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, Dolphins, and Gold Coast Titans – will launch a new junior development league in 2025, providing a crucial pathway for emerging talent, including Ipswich’s rising stars.
Ipswich has long been a rugby league powerhouse, producing legends such as Allan Langer, the Walters brothers, Luke Keary and Ali Brigginshaw.
With a strong grassroots system, elite school programs, and representative pathways, the region continues to develop top-tier players.
Supported by the Queensland Rugby League, the new league will bridge the gap left by the removal of the QRL Colts competition and act as a stepping stone to the National Youth Competition, set for 2026.
It will feature players aged 18 and 19 eligible for the Mal Meninga Cup, with teams playing six round-robin matches over nine weeks, focusing on development rather than results.
For Ipswich players, this initiative enhances existing pathways from local Ipswich Rugby League clubs to elite competitions like the Cyril Connell Challenge and Mal Meninga Cup.
This league strengthens Ipswich’s role in Queensland rugby league, ensuring young athletes can reach the professional level without relocating interstate.
This will reinforce Ipswich as a key contributor to Queensland’s future.
