Triple treat for rugby league fans

Rugby league at Sunshine Coast Stadium will kick off on February 10 with rising NRL and Hostplus Cup stars set to play in three trial matches.

Melbourne Storm’s Academy squad is heading to the Coast in February to hone its skills and teamwork against feeder clubs, the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Suzuki Brisbane Tigers.

The afternoon will be full of fast-paced action with the first game kicking off at 5pm, with each squad playing each other round-robin style.

Tickets will be available on the gate with $10 for an adult, $5 concession and children under 16 are free.

Division 3 Councillor Peter Cox said it would be an opportunity for the community to enjoy some pre-season Saturday night footy and support our local Sunshine Coast Falcons.

“We love our rugby league here so it’s a great opportunity to see Melbourne Storm rising stars have a run and also our beloved Falcons who are shaping up for their 2024 Hostplus Cup season,” Cr Cox said.

The Sunshine Coast Falcons are preparing for a significant year in 2024, fielding three women’s teams and three men’s teams in the upcoming season.

The Falcons’ inaugural women’s BMD Premiership team will take to the field alongside the newly introduced women’s u17s and the existing women’s u19s competitions. This mirrors their men’s representation, showcasing teams in the u17s, u19s, and the Hostplus Cup.

Sunshine Coast Falcons CEO Chris Flannery said they were very excited to see the Women’s BMD Premiership team take the field this season.

“The girls have been training hard since late November last year and are forming some really good combinations within the squad,” Mr Flannery said.

“It’s been a long wait and I’m looking forward to see them finally hit the field in the upcoming season!”

The Falcons will host various trial matches at Kawana Sports Precinct and Sunshine Coast Stadium throughout January and February before the season begins in March.

Fans can see plenty of action at Sunshine Coast Stadium with the Hostplus Cup team playing nine homes games and the BMD Premiership team playing at the first four of those.

The first home game of the season for both the Hostplus Cup and BMD Premiership sides is on Saturday March 16 with the women kicking off at 4.30pm and the men at 6pm. Tickets will be available on the gate.