It is a sporting empire built not on million-dollar television deals, but on volunteers, canteen workers, and suburban football fields.<\/p>\n
Long before the modern NRL era, Brisbane was a true heartland of Australian rugby league. <\/p>\n
The historic Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) premiership served as a formidable rival and feeder to the southern ranks.<\/p>\n
It was the proving ground where legends like Wally Lewis starred for Fortitude Valley Football Club and Wynnum-Manly Seagulls between 1978-1987, <\/p>\n
Notably, Wayne Bennett launched his senior coaching career with the Souths Magpies in 1977, leading them to their first premiership title in 1985.<\/p>\n
Suburban BRL clashes also forged the foundational stars of the Canberra Raiders\u2019 dominant 1980s sides.<\/p>\n
Today, that legacy lives on through Rugby League Brisbane (RLB).<\/p>\n
Following a landmark vote in November 2017, the Greater Brisbane Junior and Second Division leagues amalgamated under Australian Sports Commission governance principles, incorporating as RLB Limited in June 2018.<\/p>\n
Every weekend, the organisation oversees 18,334 registered players across 50 clubs, fielding 1011 teams in 524 matches spanning junior, senior, men\u2019s, women\u2019s, and masters divisions.<\/p>\n
At the helm sits a dedicated board of eight directors. <\/p>\n
Far beyond weekend scheduling, these board members act as custodians of a historic community asset\u2014driving financial accountability, championing inclusion, and ensuring Brisbane\u2019s suburban grounds continue to nurture the sport\u2019s next generation.<\/p>\n
SHARON HICKEY: CHAIRPERSON<\/p>\n
The board is led by chairperson Sharon Hickey who has been re-elected for the third term.
For most people, a 4am start would be enough for one career. <\/p>\n
For Hickey, it\u2019s only the beginning of the day.<\/p>\n
The 58-year-old chef by trade has spent almost 19 years running her own industrial snack bar business, Daisies Snack bar in Sandgate each day from 4am to 2pm as it suits her lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Then turning her attention to another full-time passion \u2014 leading Rugby League Brisbane as the association\u2019s first female chairperson.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a demanding balancing act, but one Hickey says she wouldn\u2019t change for anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big job, but I wouldn\u2019t trade it for anything,\u201d Hickey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get to see the biggest rugby league competition in the country with more than 18,000 participants and watch the game continue to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
As chairperson, Hickey oversees Rugby League Brisbane while also representing the association by being a council member for South East whom reports to the QRL Board.<\/p>\n
Her journey to the top wasn\u2019t planned. <\/p>\n
It began on the sidelines as a mum simply trying to help her children enjoy the game.<\/p>\n
With Pine Central Holy Spirit just down the road from home, Hickey initially had little idea how a rugby league club operated. <\/p>\n
The first role she took was of a first aid officer, then as a team manager.<\/p>\n
Hickey then took on roles as a coordinator, club secretary and eventually club president, spending 15 years learning every aspect of grassroots football.<\/p>\n
That hands-on experience proved invaluable when she joined the Rugby League Brisbane board as a director before being elected chair in November 2022 \u2014 becoming the first woman to hold the position. <\/p>\n
Hickey\u2019s rise has been built on understanding the challenges clubs face because she has lived them herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe clubs are why we\u2019re here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy phone is always on. If clubs have a problem, they know they can call me. We work for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Away from Brisbane, Hickey is equally passionate about giving back. <\/p>\n
Multiple times a year she helps organise donations of old Brisbane rugby league uniforms to communities in Papua New Guinea, to bring smiles and appreciation to those less fortunate than here in Brisbane<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something I love doing every year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am proud and honoured to do and give back always pay it forward as kindness matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
She is also a volunteer as are all the directors on the board and acknowledges the effort put in by all the volunteers across the 50 clubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important for me to acknowledge all the amazing volunteers in the 50 Clubs in Brisbane do and the amount of time they give back to their members and community as well by supporting them and giving them a voice and listening,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Whether she\u2019s serving customers before sunrise or helping clubs thrive long after full-time, Hickey\u2019s commitment to rugby league has never been about titles. It\u2019s about ensuring the grassroots game \u2014 and the people who make it possible \u2014 continue to flourish for generations to come.<\/p>\n
Supporting her are the following directors of the board:NICK PELGRAVE: INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
Nick Pelgrave knows the grind of working as a financial adviser at Prestige Wealth Group for last 12 months helping clients with personalised financial planning and wealth management while continuing his longstanding commitment to rugby league.<\/p>\n
Whether he\u2019s sending a player to the sin bin or defusing a heated on-field confrontation, Nick Pelgrave has spent more than 15 years helping uphold the standards of rugby league as one of Queensland\u2019s leading match officials.<\/p>\n
A former player, administrator and current referee, Pelgrave brings a broad perspective to his role as an independent director on the Rugby League Brisbane Board, where he contributes to governance and game development.<\/p>\n
Before taking up the whistle, Pelgrave spent 12 years playing club rugby league, giving him a first-hand understanding of the game from a player\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n
His officiating career has since flourished. A referee for more than 15 years, Pelgrave is a member of the Queensland Rugby League High Performance Unit and has officiated more than 190 professional in Queensland Cup and 70 NRL touch judge, making him one of the state\u2019s most experienced match officials.<\/p>\n
DAVID CAMPBELL: ELECTED DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
David Campbell\u2019s commitment to grassroots rugby league spans more than three decades, with the Rugby League Brisbane director building a reputation as one of the game\u2019s most dedicated volunteers through countless roles in club administration, coaching and governance.<\/p>\n
Campbell joined the Rugby League Brisbane Board in late 2025 while continuing his full-time career as a cabinet maker, a profession he has remained in for 27 years with the Crafted Cabinets in Kedron.<\/p>\n
His rugby league journey began at Wests Mitchelton Rugby League Football Club in 1990, where he played until retiring in 2006. Even while still playing, Campbell started giving back to the club, volunteering as an assistant coach for the under-10s in 2001.<\/p>\n
Over the next 15 years, he took on almost every role imaginable at Wests Mitchelton, serving as a coach, team manager, vice president, treasurer, secretary, groundsman and LeagueSafe trainer across multiple teams. He also spent seven years as club president from 2009 to 2016, balancing the demands of leading the club with his full-time career and a passion for strengthening community rugby league.<\/p>\n
In 2017, Campbell joined the West Brisbane Panthers, where he continued to make an impact in a range of leadership and administrative positions, including board member, secretary, A-grade manager and football operations manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor more than 25 years, volunteering in rugby league has been a significant part of my life,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opportunity to support players, families, volunteers and clubs at the grassroots level has been both a privilege and a source of great personal satisfaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy ongoing commitment reflects a deep appreciation for the positive impact rugby league has had on my life and a desire to ensure future generations can enjoy the same opportunities and experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
JESSICA GREGG: ELECTED DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
Jessica Gregg gives her important time to her role as a full-time Acting Manager of the Housing Outreach Mobile Engagement Team with the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works. <\/p>\n
In the role, she works on the frontline supporting people experiencing homelessness across the Brisbane City Council area, particularly rough sleepers and those in emergency accommodation, hotels and specialist homelessness services.<\/p>\n
Away from her full-time role, Gregg knows the inner workings of a rugby league club better than most, having spent the past 15 years helping steer Carina Juniors Rugby League Football Club through the day-to-day challenges of community sport.<\/p>\n
That experience has led to her appointment as a director on the Rugby League Brisbane Board, where she oversees governance and helps ensure the organisation operates effectively, ethically and in line with legal obligations.<\/p>\n
Gregg\u2019s journey in administration began as Carina\u2019s club registrar before she took on a variety of leadership roles, including a six-year stint as club secretary. Along the way, she built a reputation as a trusted voice within the game.<\/p>\n
Her contribution to rugby league extends beyond Carina. Gregg has represented clubs across Brisbane\u2019s northside and southside, worked closely with the referees\u2019 association and served as a director of the Carina Leagues Club, giving her a broad understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the grassroots game.<\/p>\n
As chair of the Rugby League Brisbane governance committee, she plays a key role in maintaining strong governance practices and supporting the board\u2019s strategic direction.<\/p>\n
Gregg is also a member of the Queensland Rugby League Support Squad, a network of trained volunteers dedicated to strengthening community rugby league across the state. Through the program, she is accredited in Mental Health First Aid, enabling her to provide support to members of the rugby league community when needed.<\/p>\n
MICHAEL BESGROVE: ELECTED DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
Michael Besgrove had spent 33 years working in government, including the past 20 years with the Department of Primary Industries in Strategic Priorities. <\/p>\n
Currently, working as a Director of Strategic Priorities at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.<\/p>\n
The motivating factor for him in the job has been the breadth and complexity of the work, addressing a diverse range of challenges and opportunities across the food and fibre production sectors.<\/p>\n
With his love of working for the government, his connection to rugby league spans more than four decades, having dedicated 45 years to Brisbane Tigers as a player, coach and volunteer.<\/p>\n
For the past four years, he has served as a club-elected director on the Rugby League Brisbane Board and chairs the Game Development Sub-Committee, helping shape initiatives to strengthen the game at the grassroots level.<\/p>\n
A proud Brisbane Tigers product, Besgrove played 23 seasons for the club, progressing from the under-7s through to A-grade. <\/p>\n
His outstanding service was recognised in 2022 when he was awarded Life Membership, adding to representative honours with the Queensland and Australian Universities teams in 1997 and 1998.<\/p>\n
His passion for the game continued into coaching, where he spent seven years leading his sons\u2019 junior teams. <\/p>\n
The experience gave him a first-hand understanding of the demands placed on grassroots coaches, from managing players and volunteers to navigating the administrative responsibilities that come with running a community team.<\/p>\n
After stepping away from coaching, Besgrove remained heavily involved with the club as a LeagueSafe volunteer, continuing to support the same junior side.<\/p>\n
STEVE CASEY: ELECTED DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
Steve Casey balances running his own print and signage business with dedicated volunteer work in rugby league.<\/p>\n
Rugby league is a true family affair for the father of four. All three of his sons have played and refereed, with his youngest currently playing while officiating as a junior referee.<\/p>\n
With nearly two decades in grassroots rugby league, Steve brings extensive administration, coaching, and governance experience to the Rugby League Brisbane Board. A long-time member of the Samford Stags, he served on the committee from 2007 to 2023, including roles as Vice President (2013\u20132015) and President (2016\u20132020).<\/p>\n
His hands-on contributions include managing the club bar for 12 years, coordinating referees, acting as a LeagueSafe officer, and coaching junior teams for nine seasons\u2014giving him a deep understanding of the challenges facing community volunteers.<\/p>\n
He joined the Rugby League Brisbane Board in 2021 before being elected as a club director for the 2024\u20132026 term. He also serves on the Queensland Rugby League Judiciary Panel, having previously served three years on the Rugby League Brisbane Judiciary and contributing to the Game Development Committee.<\/p>\n
A regular at local grounds, Steve remains deeply connected to the grassroots community, attending as many junior and senior matches as possible.<\/p>\n
GYANNE HODGES: ELECTED DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
Serving as an Elected Director on the Rugby League Brisbane Board since mid-2023, Hodges pairs her firsthand sporting passion with over 20 years of professional human resources leadership, including her current role as HR Manager at Westpoint Autos. <\/p>\n
For her, rugby league has been a central fixture of life for over two decades. <\/p>\n
From local junior footy grounds to the international arena alongside her husband, former Australian representative Justin Hodges, Gyanne\u2019s grassroots roots run deep.<\/p>\n
Having previously served in executive and committee roles with the Albany Creek Crushers, she provides the RLB Board with an authentic understanding of club dynamics alongside sharp strategic risk management and governance oversight.<\/p>\n
Hodges\u2019 ongoing work with the annual Queensland Murri Carnival underscores her broader vision: ensuring rugby league remains an inclusive, evolving, and empowering force for young athletes across Brisbane.<\/p>\n
STEPHEN CASE: INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
Stephen Case joined the Rugby League Brisbane Board in 2024 as an Independent Director and Chair of Finance. <\/p>\n
As a qualified CPA, Case brings extensive executive experience across the public and commercial sectors.<\/p>\n
A lifelong rugby league enthusiast, he is driven by the vital role community sport plays in bringing people together, fostering belonging, and supporting families and volunteers. <\/p>\n
He leverages his background in financial leadership and governance to guide RLB\u2019s long-term sustainability, ensuring local clubs remain strong, well-supported, and equipped to serve their communities for years to come.<\/p>\n
2026 RLB BOARD<\/p>\n
Chairperson: Sharon Hickey<\/p>\n
Elected Directors: Michael Besgrove, Gyanne Hodges, Steve Casey, David Campbell and Jessica Gregg<\/p>\n
Independent Directors: Stephen Case, Jess Fantin, Nick Pelgrave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It is a sporting empire built not on million-dollar television deals, but on volunteers, canteen workers, and 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