2015 Queensland Cup

In 2015, the competition expanded to the 14 teams with the inclusion of the Townsville Blackhawks. Townsville had previously been represented in the competition by the North Queensland Young Guns and Townsville Stingers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2014/09/10/qrl-announces-townsvilles-entry/|title = QRL announces Townsville's entry|date = 10 September 2014}}

The Canberra Raiders ended their affiliation with the Souths Logan Magpies, who partnered with the Brisbane Broncos.{{cite web | url=https://southsloganmagpies.com.au/affiliates-2015-brisbane-broncos-and-souths-logan-magpies/ | title=Affiliates 2015 |Brisbane Broncos and Souths Logan Magpies – Souths }} After four seasons without an NRL affiliate, the Sunshine Coast Falcons formed a partnership with the Melbourne Storm.{{Cite web|url=https://leagueunlimited.com/news/storm-join-forces-with-sunshine-coast-falcons/|title = Storm join forces with Sunshine Coast Falcons » League Unlimited}}

The Queensland Cup reverted to a six-team finals format in 2015.

{{5McIntyre

| RD1= Elimination Finals

| RD2= Major / Minor Semi-finals

| RD3= Preliminary Final

| RD4= Grand Final

| RD1-seed1= 3

| RD1-team1= {{leagueicon|Ipswich|15}} Ipswich

| RD1-score1= 54

| RD1-seed2= 6

| RD1-team2= {{leagueicon|Northern Pride|15}} Northern Pride

| RD1-score2= 26

| RD1-seed3= 4

| RD1-team3= {{leagueicon|Wynnum|15}} Wynnum Manly

| RD1-score3= 24

| RD1-seed4= 5

| RD1-team4= {{leagueicon|Balmain|15}} Easts

| RD1-score4= 32

| RD2-seed1= 1

| RD2-team1= {{leagueicon|Townsville Blackhawks|15}} Townsville

| RD2-score1= 26

| RD2-seed2= 2

| RD2-team2= {{leagueicon|PNG Hunters|15}} PNG Hunters

| RD2-score2= 12

| RD2-seed3= 3

| RD2-team3= {{leagueicon|Ipswich|15}} Ipswich

| RD2-score3= 44

| RD2-seed4= 5

| RD2-team4= {{leagueicon|Balmain|15}} Easts

| RD2-score4= 18

| RD3-seed1= 2

| RD3-team1= {{leagueicon|PNG Hunters|15}} PNG Hunters

| RD3-score1= 12

| RD3-seed2= 3

| RD3-team2= {{leagueicon|Ipswich|15}} Ipswich

| RD3-score2= 28

| RD4-seed1= 1

| RD4-team1= {{leagueicon|Townsville Blackhawks|15}} Townsville

| RD4-score1= 20

| RD4-seed2= 3

| RD4-team2= {{leagueicon|Ipswich|15}} Ipswich

| RD4-score2= 32

}}

{{rugbyleaguebox

|bg = #f1f5fc

|date = Sunday, 27 September

|time = 3:55pm (AEST)

|team1 = Townsville Blackhawks {{leagueicon|Townsville Blackhawks|16}}

|score = 20 – 32

|report = 1st: 8 - 16
2nd: 12 - 16
[https://www.nrl.com/news/2015/09/27/ipswich-jets-win-intrust-super-cup/ Report]

|team2 = {{leagueicon|Ipswich|16}} Ipswich Jets

|points1 = Tries:
Jahrome Hughes 1
Tom Humble 1
Robert Lui 1
Zac Santo 1
Goals:
Robert Lui 2

|points2 = Tries:
1 Carlin Anderson
1 Marmin Barba
1 Keiron Lander
1 Matt Parcell
1 Dane Phillips
1 Nemani Valekapa
Goals:
2 Carlin Anderson
1 Marmin Barba
1 Keiron Lander

|stadium = Suncorp Stadium

|referee = Clayton Sharpe

|attendance = 8,086

|manofmatch = Billy McConnachie (Ipswich)

}}

Townsville took out the minor premiership in their debut season, losing just three games (one of those to Ipswich). They qualified for their first Grand Final after defeating the PNG Hunters 26–12 in the major semi final. Ipswich, who finished the regular season in 3rd, defeated the Northern Pride 54–26 in the first elimination final. In the minor semi final, they defeated Easts and then upset the Hunters a week later to qualify for their third Grand Final.

Townsville got off to a great start, scoring in the 2nd minute of the game through centre Tom Humble. Ipswich scored their first try in the 19th minute in spectacular fashion, when winger Marmin Barba ran 70 metres before finding his halfback Dane Phillips who scored. The Jets grabbed their second just minutes later when Townsville fullback Jahrome Hughes threw a wayward pass as he was being dragged over the sideline, that was dived on by Barba in the in-goal. Townsville hit back in the 29th minute when winger Zac Santo scored in the right corner. With a minute remaining in the half, Jets' fullback Carlin Anderson sliced through the Blackhawks defence off a scrum to give his side a 10-point lead.

It took just a minute before the Jets had their fourth try of the game, when captain Keiron Lander latched onto a Phillips grubber. Three minutes later they recorded their fifth try when centre Nemani Valekapa scored in the corner. The Blackhawks finally stemmed the flow of points in the 50th minute when Hughes crossed the try line. An Ipswich penalty goal from right in front extended their lead to 12 with 20 minutes to play. Townsville gave themselves a chance late when Robert Lui grubbered for himself to score in the 73rd minute to see his side trail by just six. A tense final seven minutes followed but Ipswich held on and sealed the win with an 80th minute try to hooker Matt Parcell.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/faUJ3chGCDc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170210012518/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faUJ3chGCDc Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faUJ3chGCDc| title = 2015 QLD Cup Grand Final Ipswich 32 v Townsville 20 | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

The premiership was the first ever for the Jets, who had gone 30 seasons without success dating back to the Brisbane Rugby League competition. Ipswich second-rower Billy McConnachie was awarded the Duncan Hall Medal for the man of the match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2015/09/27/duncan-hall-medal-winner-billy-mcconnachie2/|title = Duncan Hall Medal winner Billy McConnachie| date=27 September 2015 }}

{{see also|2015 NRL State Championship}}

After winning the Grand Final, the Ipswich Jets qualified for the NRL State Championship on NRL Grand Final day. They defeated the Newcastle Knights, the New South Wales Cup premiers, 26–12.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2015/10/04/jets-win-state-championship-in-style/|title = Jets win State Championship in style|date = 4 October 2015}}{{rugbyleaguebox|date=Sunday, 4 October|time=3:40pm (AEDT)|team1=Newcastle Knights {{leagueicon|Newcastle}}

2015 NSW Cup Premiers|score=12–26|report=[https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-state-championship/2015/state-championship-final/knights-v-jets/ Report]|team2={{leagueicon|Ipswich}} Ipswich Jets

2015 QLD Cup Premiers|points1=Tries:
G Ndaira (28')
J Feeney(42')
Goals:
G Ndaira 2/2|points2=Tries:
M Parcell (1')
B McConnachie (10')
M Barba (37')
R Griffin(63')
Goals:
C Anderson 5/5|stadium=ANZ Stadium, Sydney|referee=Matt Noyen|manofmatch=}}

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of the season (including finals).{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/stats/?competition=114&season=2015|title=Stats}}

{{Col-start}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Col-end}}

• Courier Mail Medal (Best and Fairest): Patrick Templeman ({{leagueicon|Wynnum|16}} Wynnum Manly Seagulls)
• Coach of the Year: Michael Marum ({{leagueicon|PNG Hunters|16}} PNG Hunters)
• Rookie of the Year: Aaron Rockley ({{leagueicon|Wynnum|16}} Wynnum Manly Seagulls)
• Representative Player of the Year: Shaun Nona ({{flagicon|Queensland|16}} Queensland Residents, {{leagueicon|Balmain|16}} Easts Tigers)
• XXXX People's Choice Awards: Wartovo Puara ({{leagueicon|PNG Hunters|16}} PNG Hunters)

{{Portal|Queensland|Sports}}

• Queensland Cup
• Queensland Rugby League

{{Reflist}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Queensland Cup}}

{{Rugby League in Queensland}}

{{Ipswich Jets squad – 2015 Queensland Cup premiers}}

{{2015 in rugby league}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Queensland Cup season 2015}}

Category:2015 in Australian rugby league

Category:Queensland Cup