The NRL Schoolgirl Cup – Queensland was launched last week, with Gold Coast Titans coach Karyn Murphy and captain Georgia Hale on hand to support some of the game’s future stars.
This year, there are 20 schools taking part in the competition, up from 13 schools participating last year.
The Titans sponsor the SEQ Pool of the competition – Pool A, which includes St James College, Stretton SC, Palm Beach Currumbin SHS, Marsden SHS, Mabel Park SHS, Keebra Park SHS and last year’s NRL Schoolgirl Cup national champions Ipswich SHS.
“I know I come from many years ago when I couldn't play in the school competition, so to see the growth, it's just year on year, and the numbers of the girls that are playing in our schools and there alone, from 13 to 20 teams in one year, it's just so good for the sport,” Murphy said.
“It's definitely exciting for now and for the future as well.
“You can see it already, just the depth coming through and when you go out to the schoolgirls competitions, just the standard year on year, I think, both with the playing numbers, but the actual standard of how they're playing and the understanding of the game, it just improves every single year.
“(To support the schoolgirl competition is) massive here at the Titans where we sit.
“We're definitely passionate about our pathways and I think we've demonstrated that we do want to be a pathways club in that space and we will recruit from within where we can and you can see that in our NRLW with our numbers that have come through our pathways.”
For Marsden player Enah Desic, playing school rugby league has helped fast-track her development.
“(Playing school rugby league) was crucial … I was developed in the gym, on the field and attitude-wise, it helps me be some much of a better player,” Desic said.
“I was able to develop a skills-wise as a nine and … I could work on specific things, like my kicking and work on my diet because I have people around me to support me in being the best that I can be.”
Key points: NRL Schoolgirl Cup - QLD
- In 2025, there are four (4) pools - A, B, C, D
- Pool A is made up of SEQ schools and is sponsored by the Titans
- Pool A kicks off Tuesday, June 3 with a game between St James College v Ipswich SHS, who are last year’s national champions
- Pool D (North Queensland) kicks off first on Thursday, May 29 with a game between Kirwan SHS v St Patrick's College Mackay
- Full draw is on PlayRugbyLeague.com
- All matches can be watched live on on KommunityTV.
- This year, there are 20 schools in Queensland. In 2024, there were 13 schools taking part.
- The 2024 National Champions were Ipswich SHS. In 2023, the title holders were Mabel Park SHS, both Queensland schools.
- In 2025, the Queensland final will be played on the Sunshine Coast on September 4.
- The National final will be played in Sydney on September 17.

Elsewhere in the schools competitions, the Queensland schoolboys are in action, including in North Queensland’s Aaron Payne Cup, which kicks off this week.
This season, all matches from both the NRL National Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Cup competitions will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV through News Corp Australia digital mastheads.
There is plenty of exciting action to look forward to, including a rematch of the 2024 decider between the Kirwan Bears and St Patrick’s, Mackay.
Aaron Payne Cup
Wednesday, May 28
11.15am: St Augustine's College v Holy Spirit College - watch live
Thursday, May 29
12.20pm: Kirwan SHS v St Patrick's College - watch live + free
1.30pm: Trinity Bay SHS v Ignatius College - watch live