Sunshine Coast Falcons

The Sunshine Coast Falcons are a rugby league football team based on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. They compete in the Queensland Cup and their home ground is Sunshine Coast Stadium. The Falcons are currently affiliated with the NRL team Melbourne Storm.

Sunshine Coast Falcons
Club information
Full nameSunshine Coast Falcons RLFC
Nickname(s)Falcons
Colours  Gold
  Black
Founded1996 (1996)
Current details
Ground(s)
CEOChris Flannery
CoachBrad Henderson
CaptainPatrice Siolo
CompetitionQueensland Cup (Seniors)
Hastings Deering Colts (U20’s)
Mal Meninga Cup (U18's)
Cyril Connell Cup (U16's)
Current season
Uniforms
Alt text for kit1
Home
Away
Premierships (2nd grade)1 (2009)
Runners-up (2nd grade)1 (2017)
Minor premierships (2nd grade)1 (2019)
Wooden spoons (2nd grade)3 (2011, 2013, 2014)

History

The Falcons were originally the Winfield State League representative team for the Sunshine Coast. First competing in the 1993 season, they won their pool before losing in the semi-finals.[1] For the 1994 season, they competed as Sunshine Coast/Gympie, against winning the pool matches, but losing both semi-final matches.[2] In the last year of the State League, the combined Sunshine Coast/Gympie team failed to progress from the pool stage. They competed in the first season of the Queensland Cup in 1996 but dropped out the following season.

In 2006, the club joined the FOGS Cup competing in the second-level competition.[3] The club finished their first season in sixth position, just outside the finals positions.[4]

Partnership with Manly (2009-2010)

In 2009, they were readmitted to the Queensland Cup after securing an agreement with the NRL's Manly Sea Eagles to become a feeder club. Between 2009 and 2013 the club was renamed the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles due to the partnership with the Manly Sea Eagles.[5]

The partnership instantly proved successful with the team winning the 2009 Queensland Cup Grand Final 32–18 to secure their first premiership, with a number of Manly players in the squad.[6][7] Following the end of the 2010 season, Manly were forced to cut ties with the club after a change in policy disallowed NRL teams from having feeder clubs in both the Queensland Cup and New South Wales Cup.[8]

Partnership with Melbourne Storm (2014-)

In 2014 the club reverted to the Falcons name[9] and struck a three-year partnership with the Melbourne Storm from the 2015 season.[10] The Falcons endured a 36-game losing streak during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, on their way to consecutive wooden spoons.

In May 2021, Melbourne extended their affiliation partnership with the Falcons to the end of the 2024 season.[11]

Life Members

In September 2021, the club awarded the first life memberships of the club:[12]

  • Don Oxenham – Inaugural CEO and former board member
  • Dave Cordwell – Coach (Colts: 2009–10; FOGs Cup: 2011; Queensland Cup: 2012–13) and former board member
  • Alan Marr – Board member 2009-19
  • Gordon Oakes – Chairman 2006-13

Season Summaries
P=Premier, R=Runner-Up, M=Minor Premier, F=Finals appearance, W=Wooden Spoon,
(Brackets represent Finals games)
CompetitionGames
played		Games
won		Games
drawn		Games
lost		Ladder
Position		PRMFWCoachCaptainNotes
1996 Queensland Cup
15
1
0
14
15 / 16
Withdrew from Queensland Cup
2006 FOGS Cup
20
10
2
8
6 / 11
2007 FOGS Cup
20
4
2
14
10 / 11
2008 FOGS Cup
20
5
2
13
8 / 10
Admitted back to Queensland Cup as Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles
2009 Queensland Cup
22(3)
12(2)
1
9(1)
4 / 12
♦
Brandon Costin
Cameron Joyce2009 FOGS Cup - (P20 3-0-17) Finished 9/10
2010 Queensland Cup
22(1)
14
0
8(1)
3 / 12
♦
2010 FOGS Cup - (P20 8-1-11) Finished 7/10
2011 Queensland Cup
22
2
0
20
12 / 12
♦
Adam Mogg
2011 FOGS Cup - (P21 1-0-20) Finished 8/8
2012 Queensland Cup
22
4
1
17
11 / 12
Dave Cordwell
2012 FOGS Cup - (P20 2-0-18) Finished 8/8
2013 Queensland Cup
22
2
0
20
12 / 12
♦
Club reverts to Sunshine Coast Falcons
2014 Queensland Cup
24
1
0
23
13 / 13
♦
Ivan Henjak→
Glen Dreger
Ryan Hansen
2015 Queensland Cup
23
7
1
15
11 / 14
Glen Dreger
Tom Murphy
2016 Queensland Cup
23(3)
12(2)
1
10(1)
5 / 14
♦
Craig Ingebrigtsen
Troy Giess
2017 Queensland Cup
23(4)
15(3)
1
7(1)
4 / 14
♦
♦
Dane Hogan
2018 Queensland Cup
23
10
0
13
10 / 14
2019 Queensland Cup
23(3)
21(1)
1
1(2)
1 / 14
♦
♦
Eric Smith
2020 Queensland CupSeason cancelled after one game (Sunshine Coast lost) due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.
Sam Mawhinney
2021 Queensland Cup
17(1)
9
0
8(1)
8 / 14
♦
Dane Hogan
Todd Murphy
2022 Queensland Cup
19(3)
14(1)
1
5(2)
2 / 14
♦
Brad Henderson
Patrice Siolo
2023 Queensland Cup
20(2)
11(1)
1
8(1)
8 / 15
♦

Honours

Queensland Cup

Junior

Players

2022 squad
2022 Sunshine Coast Falcons squad
First team squad Coaching staff
  • Grant Anderson – CE
  • Daniel Atkinson – HB
  • Kauri Aupouri-Puketapu – HB
  • Max Bailey – PR
  • Matthew Baker – LK
  • Sam Burns – HK
  • Daniel Dole – LK
  • Campbell Duffy – PR
  • Myles Gal – PR
  • Louis Geraghty – SR
  • Jack Gibbons – SR
  • Danny Heenam
  • Kane Jackson – CE
  • Rowan Jardine – PR
  • Ryan Jeffery – PR
  • Luke Jurd – LK
  • Gian Largiader – WG
  • Walter Lauenstein – WG
  • Jake Maizen – CE
  • Nat McGavin – WG
  • Harrison O'Toole – WG
  • Luke Polselli – CE
  • Thomas Rafter – SR
  • Wyatt Reynolds – SR

Head coach

  • Brad Henderson


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice captain(s)


Melbourne Storm allocated players

Storm splits its squad of NRL and development list players between the Falcons and Brisbane Tigers, with players not required for that weekend's NRL fixture heading to their Queensland Cup team:[13]

Representatives

The following players have played representative football for the Queensland Residents in the annual match against NSW Residents while playing for the Falcons.

Awards

The James Ackerman Medal is awarded to the Sunshine Coast Falcons Player of the Year. The award is named in honour of the late James Ackerman, who died from injuries sustained in a tackle while playing for the Falcons against Norths Devils in 2015.

Annual Player of the Year Awards
Queensland CupColts
YearJames Ackerman MedalBest BackBest ForwardPlayer's PlayerRookie of the YearMan of SteelPlayer of the YearBest Back Best ForwardMan of Steel
2015[14] Tom MurphyKurt MannJohnny Vuetibau——Travis RobinsonSam Burns——Sam Burns
2016[15] Ryley JacksAlex BishopTroy Giess———Devlin LongAlex CopelinBeau Fermor—
2017[16] Jon GrieveGuy HamiltonDane Hogan—Matt Soper-LawlerGuy Hamilton
Jye Ballinger		Stephen BuckleyBaylee Byrne PerrettDamian Forde-HurrellDamian Forde-Hurrell
2018[17] Dane HoganJustin OlamChris Lewis—Caleb Daunt—Stephen BuckleyRiley MooreDamian Forde-Hurrell—
2019 Harry GrantTodd MurphyChris Lewis—Nat McGavin—Tyson SmoothyJack WrightWyatt ReynoldsKane Jackson
2020Season cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
2021[18] Patrice SioloLuke PolselliTom RafterTodd MurphyJack Wright—Kaleb SuttonKane JacksonSam Reid—
2022Luke PolselliTyran WishartTyson SmoothyTyson SmoothyKane Jackson—Danny HeenanLucas BellKaleb Sutton—
2023[19]Max BaileyScott GaleanoChris LewisMax BaileyDanny Heenan—Blake WoodfordMason PeutBlake WoodfordBlake Woodford

Personnel
Name Positions
Chris Flannery CEO
Brad Henderson Head coach
Dan Murphey Assistant coach
Ben McBryde Assistant coach

[20]

Coaches
  • 2009 – 2010 — Brandon Costin
  • 2011 — Adam Mogg
  • 2012 – 2013 — Dave Cordwell
  • 2014 — Ivan Henjak[21] (quit midseason, replaced by Glen Dreger)
  • 2015 — Glen Dreger
  • 2016 – 2018 — Craig Ingebrigtsen
  • 2019 — Eric Smith
  • 2020 – 2021 — Sam Mawhinney[22]
  • 2022 – present – Brad Henderson[23]

Name, logo and colours

The Falcons historic colours have been black and gold however when the Manly Sea Eagles announced their partnership with the Falcons the club rebranded to become the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles and the colours changed to Manly's colours of maroon and white. When the feeder arrangement ended the club continued with the name but changed the colours to blue and white. However fans and players on the Sunshine Coast called for a return to the clubs traditional name and colours and in the 2014 season the club complied, rebranding back to the Falcons with gold and black colours.[24]

  • Sunshine Coast – Logos
  • Before 2008
    Before 2008
  • 2008-10During link with Manly
    2008-10
    During link with Manly
  • 2011-13
    2011-13
  • 2014–present
    2014–present

Stadium

The Falcons home ground is Sunshine Coast Stadium, located in Kawana Waters.[25]

In both 2020 and 2021, Falcons' affiliated NRL club Melbourne Storm were forced to relocate to the Sunshine Coast Stadium due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

Major Sponsors

See also

References
  1. "1993 Queensland State League results". queensland.rleague.com (Archived). Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  2. "1994 Queensland State League results". queensland.rleague.com (Archived). Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  3. "Falcons face quicker game in FOGs Cup". sunshinecoastdaily.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  4. "Wizard Cup, Fogs Cup, Fogs Colts". leagueunlimited.com. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  5. Manly to invest $1m in Coast league | thedaily.com.au
  6. "Brilliant Sea Eagles clinch cup". qrl.com.au (Archived). Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  7. "Eagles soar to a grand win". sunshinecoastdaily.com.au. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  8. Meyn, By Travis (29 November 2010). "Sea Eagles lose Manly link". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  9. Anthonybrand, By (29 January 2014). "Switch to Falcons means much more than a new name". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  10. Steeletaylor, By (14 July 2014). "Falcons set to sign three-year deal with Storm". The Courier Mail.
  11. "Storm enhances commitment to Sunshine Coast". melbournestorm.com.au. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  12. "Sunshine Coast Falcons Inaugural Life Members Inducted". scfalcons.com.au. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  13. "HostPlus Cup: who's playing for who". melbournestorm.com.au. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  14. Brand, Anthony (24 September 2015). "Murphy takes James Ackerman medal at Falcon awards night". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  15. "Jacks stars at Falcons awards". qrl.com.au. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  16. "Sunshine Coast 2017 awards winners". qrl.com.au. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  17. "Experience counts for Sunshine Coast Falcons". qrl.com.au. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  18. "Vantage Homes Falcons 2021 Awards Night". scfalcons.com.au. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  19. "2023 Awards Night Winners". scfalcons.com.au. Sunshine Coast Falcons. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  20. "Sunshine Coast Falcons - Coaching staff". scfalcons.com.au. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  21. "Former Brisbane Broncos coach Ivan Henjak has quit the Sunshine Coast Falcons". foxsports.com.au. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  22. "Falcons appoint new Intrust Super Cup head coach". qrl.com.au. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  23. "Brad Henderson appointed Falcons ISC Coach for 2022". scfalcons.com.au. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  24. "The Sunshine Coast Falcons". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  25. "Sunshine Coast Stadium". www.scfalcons.com.au. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
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