Parkwood Sharks RLC Inc.

Established in 1976 is a family-friendly rugby league club catering for all ages of junior rugby league in the northern Gold Coast region. Our motto “One Club One Family” is significant as we encourage all members of our club and their families to become involved in the kids’ sporting life – mums and dads, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas. Our club is run solely by dedicated volunteers, bringing about a great family atmosphere.

In 2021 we celebrated our 45th year and we hope to further build on this community spirit, with everyone feeling included and part of this great club. We hope to encourage a sense of belonging for all players and their families.

Our Clubhouse and grounds are centrally located and surrounded by beautiful parklands at 180 Musgrave Avenue in the rapidly growing area of Parkwood, next door to the Southport Sharks AFL Club.

We have teams in all grades of the competition, from Under 6’s to Open Women’s and Open Men’s.

If you are interested in joining the Parkwood Sharks you can email the club secretary Rebecca Nielsen, at secretary@parkwoodsharks.com for further information.

1976

Brothers JRLFC was formed as a foundation member of the Gold Coast District Junior Rugby League and competed in the first year of Gold Coast Juniors, wearing the old blue and white striped “buthers” jumpers.

Lionel Kellett was the inaugural President as well as Treasurer of the District. Lionel went on to become President of Brothers JRLFC for years and Treasurer for the District for three years. In 1978 he also took on the Presidency of the District as well. In 1979 he became Patron of the District and in 1980/81 was Vice President of the District. Lionel held the distinction of being the inaugural Life Member of both the Gold Coast District (1980) and the Parkwood Brothers Sharks (1983).

1980

Brothers JRLFC sent the Under 14’s team to compete in the NSWCRL Group 18 competition.

1982

An affiliation with the Surfers Paradise Pirates saw us become known as the Brothers Sharks JRLFC and the Pirates jumpers of black, white and blue were adopted.

1992

In 1992 the club became known as Parkwood Brothers Sharks JRLFC, and now resides at the scenic Parklands where the current clubhouse stands.

1999

The Parkwood Brothers Sharks JRLFC entered an Under 19’s side in the Senior Gold Coast Group 18 competition, in what was to be a defining moment for the club. It would lay the platform for future senior sides to once again play out of the club, only this time under the control of the junior committee. Since then, our A grade have become one of the most successful sides in the Gold Coast Rugby League, with a host of juniors now being able continue on at Parkwood and play for the Sharks.

2004

This was a great year for the club – Wes Doo celebrated a club record 250 games this season and Shaun Eldridge joined Jay Doo, & John Callahan as members of the 200 game club. The club won 3 premierships, 3 Presidents Cups and 3 Minor premierships in A Grade, U/15’s, U/14’s and U/12’s.

2005

In 2005 our U/12’s and 16b’s won their competitions whilst the 15’s and Opens won their President’s Cup.

2006

The club was further expanded seeing us join the Griffith University Student Guild to form the Uni/Parkwood Sharks and entering three teams in the Gold Coast Rugby League Competition. This brought our team numbers to 18 – Doubling over 9 years.

The club celebrated 30 years of existence with a team in every grade of the competitions for the first ever time. Tait Rolfe and Brett Thomas joined the 200 game club and along with other 200 game players, became new Junior Life Members of the club. Megan Anderson was awarded Life Membership of the Gold Coast District.

2007

The club won the U/12-Div2 competition and came fourth in the Junior Club Championship, an outstanding achievement by all teams and coaches. Mark Thomas became only the third player to achieve Junior Life Membership and 200 games as junior and Ben Anderson played his 200th game for the club. Wes Doo played his 300th game, whilst Jay Doo played his 250th. Paul Rolfe built the new Rolfe Family Mini field, as player numbers swelled past 350. The seniors became a standalone operation after the Federal Government changes to compulsory union membership of Uni students, saw the withdrawal of funds for the Uni league side.

2008

With thanks to State Government grants the club house was given a much needed revamp. External (old) public toilets became part of a new facility, along with a dressing shed envied by many, and an administration office. The Senior & Junior clubs united as one entity becoming the Parkwood Sharks RLC Inc. A massive number of 6 players achieved the 200 games and Junior Life Membership – Dane Bidner, Michael Gray, Ryan Miller, Jarred Bassett, Jamie Anderson and Ryan Lamont  

2009

After many years steering the Sharks, President Ross Anderson stepped down from the committee midway through the season. He was recognised at the Gold Coast City Council Australia Day awards in 2010 through his nomination for services to sportas well as Life Member of our Club.  The club hosted a successful Semi-Finals program for the Gold Coast District Finals. A large number of Parkwood layers were recognised for their ability representing the Gold Coast at representative level.  Taylor Rolfe and Liam Byrne were also recognised for their service with Junior Life Membership 

2010

In the Bycroft Cup, with a new A grade Coach, Julius Kuresa, and a few new players to the club – the A grade team started slow but by mid season were shaping up as Finals contenders. In many of the end of season games they had beaten all the top teams convincingly and seemed set to stamp the Parkwood name on the Finals series. Unfortunately, the team’s early form left them out of the Finals purely on for/against count back.

The inaugural Powerguard Cup competition began as the second division comp. Parkwood fielded a strong team, winning the competition against Runaway Bay at Canungra.

2011

We won the Powerguard Competition again, but sad news followed with the passing of team trainer Scott Sims one week later.
Michelle Fernandes was inducted as a Life Member and Andrew Anderson and Jayden Young  became Junior Life Members

2012

Our U12s won their competition and Blake Luther Paulsen, Chris Moore and Sam Fernandes all became Junior Life Members. Financially the club went into receivership and QRL took control of the Club. Justin Paulsen was appointed to the position of President to steer the club out of tough times 

2013

We won the Powerguard Competition again and gradually continued to rebuild the club financially and in team numbers

2015

Lynette Fraser was appointed Life Member and we successfully won a contract with GOLDOC to use our club as a training venue for the Commonwealth Games in 2018. We won the Powergard Competition again

2016

 James Bricknell played his 2100th Game and became a junior Life Member and we hosted the Preliminary Finals of the Gold Coast Juniors . 

2017

We introduced two new girls teams into the club with teams in the Under 14 and Under 16 – South East Queensland Comp and hosted the Debbie Marzella Cup Grand Final (Open Men’s) which saw the men coming away as runners up.
Raven Whaitiri Whakatope from our girls U14s side was selected to play in the Queensland side.
Darren Hoare was appointed Life Member and we won the Under 14/3s and Under 12/3s competition. We also introduced a Touch Football Specialised side to play in the Gold Coast Sport and Rec competition. 

2018

We hosted the 2018 Junior Grand Final as well as having the Commonwealth Games Rugby 7s using our clubhouse for a training venue. Jayden Harris was selected in the Gold Coast Vikings Under 13s side 

2019 

 It was a successful year for the Sharks, winning 3 Premierships in the Open Men’s (DMC), U16 Div2 and the U13 Div3.
The biggest step forward was the inclusion of our first ever women’s team.

2020 

 The 2020 season proved interesting with COVID, but as a club we rose to the challenge and were very fortunate to still have a season, and a successful one at that. 
For the second year in a row, the Open Men’s team won the Minor and Major Premiership in the DMC; with only one loss in the last two seasons!
We fielded an U18’s female team for the first time, who made it to their final but unfortunately didn’t come away with the win. 
 Jayden Young from the Open Men’s team became only the third club member to play 300 games; Dennis Mahony from the U14’s played his 150th game, a honour he shares with his father; and both Cooper Fitness and Deacon Reid from the U12 team played their 100th games. 
Club President, Ronan Bryne stepped down after 25 years of involvement with the club. 

Notable Past players: Bob Lidner (Qld/Australia) Scott Sattler (Qld) Paul Hauff (Qld/Australia) Darius Boyd (QLD/Kangaroos)