# Cyril Connell Challenge

The Cyril Connell Challenge is an under-16 competition administered by the Queensland Rugby League. First run in 2021, the competition replaced the QRL Junior State Championships, which ran from 2017 to 2020. The 2020 competition was ultimately cancelled in the wake of the COVID pandemic before the tournament re-commenced in a round robin format for the 2021 season. Originally known as The Cyril Connell Cup the competition, which began in 2009, included the junior representative teams of Queensland Cup clubs. The competition also featured teams from Victoria and the Northern Territory. In the 2016 season, the Cyril Connell Cup consisted of sixteen clubs: fifteen based within Queensland and one in Victoria. Eleven of the sixteen clubs were junior representative teams for Queensland Cup clubs. From 2011 to 2016, the winners of the Grand Final played the winners of the New South Wales’ under-16 competition, the Harold Matthews Cup, in the National Final.
The Cyril Connell Cup/Challenge was named after Cyril Connell Jr., who played 24 games for Queensland and 2 Tests for Australia between 1952 and 1957.

## Teams

In 2021 The Cyril Connell Challenge comprised 15 teams from across the state split into 3 pools. Thirteen of the fifteen clubs were junior representative teams for Queensland Cup clubs. Tweed Heads Seagulls and Redcliffe Dolphins finished equal top of the ladder after going undefeated during their campaigns. Redcliffe would remain undefeated, topping the table in both the 2022 and 2023 editions of the tournament.

### Clubs

Mal Meninga Cup :
| Club | Seasons | City | Stadium | Premierships (Last) |
| Central Crows | 2011–2016 | Bundaberg, Queensland | Across the Waves Sportsground | 0 |
| Central Queensland Capras | 2009–2016 | Rockhampton, Queensland | Browne Park | 0 |
| Easts Tigers | 2009–2016 | Brisbane, Queensland | Suzuki Stadium | 0 |
| Gold Coast Blue | 2010 | Gold Coast, Queensland | Merv Craig Sporting Complex | 0 |
| Gold Coast Gold | 2011–2012 | Gold Coast, Queensland | Pizzey Park | 0 |
| Gold Coast Green | 2010–2016 | Gold Coast, Queensland | Pizzey Park | 0 |
| Gold Coast Vikings | 2009 | Gold Coast, Queensland | Pizzey Park | 0 |
| Gold Coast White | 2013–2016 | Gold Coast, Queensland | Pizzey Park | 0 |
| Ipswich Jets | 2009–2016 | Ipswich, Queensland | North Ipswich Reserve | 0 |
| Mackay Cutters | 2009–2016 | Mackay, Queensland | BB Print Stadium Mackay | 0 |
| Northern Pride | 2009–2016 | Cairns, Queensland | Barlow Park | 1 (2014) |
| Northern Territory Rugby League | 2009–2010 | Darwin, Northern Territory | Richardson Park | 1 (2011) |
| Norths Devils | 2009–2016 | Brisbane, Queensland | Bishop Park | 3 (2013) |
| Redcliffe Dolphins | 2009–2016 | Redcliffe, Queensland | Dolphin Oval | 0 |
| Souths Logan Magpies | 2009–2016 | Brisbane, Queensland | Davies Park | 1 (2012) |
| Sunshine Coast Falcons | 2009–2016 | Sunshine Coast, Queensland | Sunshine Coast Stadium | 0 |
| Toowoomba Clydesdales | 2009–2016 | Toowoomba, Queensland | Gold Park | 0 |
| Townsville Blackhawks | 2009–2016 | Townsville, Queensland | Jack Manski Oval | 2 (2016) |
| Victoria Rugby League | 2015–2016 | Melbourne, Victoria | Casey Fields | 0 |
| Wests Panthers | 2011–2012 | Brisbane, Queensland | Purtell Park | 0 |
| Wide Bay Bulls | 2009 | Bundaberg, Queensland | - | 0 |
| Wynnum Manly Seagulls | 2009–2016 | Brisbane, Queensland | BMD Kougari Oval | 0 |
| Central Crows played as Central United from 2011 to 2013. CQ Capras played as Central Comets from 2009 to 2011. Townsville Blackhawks played as Townsville Stingers from 2009 to 2015. Western Mustangs played as Toowoomba Clydesdales from 2009 to 2016. |||||||

## Grand Final results

| Season | Grand Finals | Grand Finals | Grand Finals | Grand Finals |
| Season | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Venue |
| 2009 | Norths Devils | 42–30 | Townsville Stingers | Bishop Park |
| 2010 | Norths Devils | 26–24 | Gold Coast Blue | Langlands Park |
| 2011 | Easts Tigers | 28–10 | Central Comets | Langlands Park |
| 2012 | Souths Logan Magpies | 10–6 | Townsville Stingers | BMD Kougari Oval |
| 2013 | Norths Devils | 44–6 | Easts Tigers | Langlands Park |
| 2014 | Northern Pride | 14–12 | Townsville Stingers | Barlow Park |
| 2015 | Townsville Stingers | 31–30 | Sunshine Coast Falcons | Tapout Energy Stadium |
| 2016 | Townsville Blackhawks | 20–18 | Souths Logan Magpies | Suzuki Stadium |