Our History

The Mighty Hornets

Our Past – Where have we Come From?

The Helensvale Hornets Junior Rugby League Club was first established in 1991 with teams registered for U7, U8, U9, U10, U11 and U12’s.

Initially the Club was run and backed by the Helensvale Baptist Church. In 1993, the Church handed over the administration of the Club to the Club’s own Committee. Up until the 1996 Season, the Helensvale Rugby Union Grounds had been the home ground for the Club. In 1995, grounds were nominated at Monterey Keys for the Club and fields. During 1996 the Club House was erected and area the size of five playing fields was prepared.

The beginning of the 1997 season saw the Club set up its own permanent home on these grounds. This has given us the room to bring our Juniors through the ranks to Senior Teams for the future. It was also envisaged that our Club House would be able to offer facilities to the Community for other uses such as Bingo or Community-run functions.

The Community area that the Club serviced extended from Helensvale, Gaven, Studio Village, Monterey Keys, Hope Island and Oyster Cove through to Oxenford, Coomera, Pimpama and Ormeau. This area had approximately five High Schools and nine Primary Schools. The estimated population was around 30,000. With projected growth in this corridor, our Club and facility could only increase in size in the coming seasons. Research at the time revealed that this growth would extend to Brisbane and eventually Brisbane and the Gold Coast will be a combined city. Thus, the potential for our Club was considered enormous.

Since 1995 the Club has appointed a Club Captain from the players competing at International Rule level (U13-17). The Captain is chosen to act as a ‘Role Model’ for the younger Players to look up to. They are also invited to attend all the Committee Meetings to learn about the administration of the Club. This input from one of the Club Players, has proved invaluable to the Committee in some of its decision-making.

In addition to the founders and parents of past and present players, much of the Club’s initial success is largely due to Sponsorship from various businesses in the local area. In 2003, to mark the Club’s success, the old logo was replaced with the new logo “The Mighty Hornet”.

Due to our growth, the diligence of past committees and GCCC support, we opened up a third international playing field in 2003 and installed a scoreboard. In 2004, we installed a 100 seat stand and player’s huts. In 2005, the front verandah was extended and an equipment shed installed. In 2006 an official’s tower was erected and spectator railing around field 1 and field 2 was installed.

By 2007, the strength of the Club will have increased to include teams in ALL junior age groups from U7 right through to the U17 for the first time. Plus our Seniors will field again 3 Teams in the Gold Coast Rugby League and an Over 35 Masters Team.

Since 2007 under the guidance of our current Club President Wayne Court, we have grown from 13 teams to a massive 43 junior teams and has become one of the premier clubs on the Gold Coast.

The club has achieved once of its main goals which was to have a team and a place for all players to play in no matter what age or level they aspired to play for which means they can stay and become a Hornet 4 Life. We consistently see the signs of this at our annual presentations with the amount of 7 year, 10 year & 12 year (junior life member) awards that are handed out and 2020 saw our first ever 15 years service award presented to Ashton Court, one of our players who has played consecutively at the club from a 5 year old to u20s.

The club is proud to have seen lots of our players go through the ranks and gain Rep Honors in Vikings, SEQ, Queensland, Australian Schoolboys, MM Cup, HDC Cup, Intrust Super Cup and NRL, with players Jesse Arthars, Emry Pere, Keenan Palasia, Briton Nikora & Mitchell Dunn all ex Hornets juniors and sure there will be many more coming through in years to come from our talented juniors.

2021 with the inception of our A Grade will see the Hornets for the first time in its history field teams in every age group and every division from 3 year olds through to A Grade, which is a massive achievement that has taken a lot of blood sweet and tears over the years from everyone who has ever been involved and a member of the club. Certainly a proud moment.

LIFE MEMBERS

John Rourke

Wanda Whitley

Muriel Cromack

Tony Cromack

Bruce Forman

Rocky James

Norm Muller

Troy Dutton

Cheryl Sharp

Wayne Court

Marnie Court

Leanne Watt

Lee Sharp

Stuart McAdam

Belinda Beasley

Naomi Mansfield

 

Junior Life Members

Bailey Court

Cameron Watt

Jayden Sharp

Ashton Court

Daniel Jones

Noah Court

Alister McAdam

Zac Reus

Jack Beasley

Joshua Paiyo

Kyle Ferguson

Hayden Knox

Josh Mayfield

Thomas Ladd

Brody Smitker

Zac Johnson

Jake Potter

Jared Johnson

Brock Buckley