With a new NRL affiliation, a new A-grade side and up to eight new recruits, Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Brad Henderson believes the club is laying strong foundations for the 2026 season.
The Falcons recently secured a two-year affiliation with the Brisbane Broncos and, alongside Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League (SCGRL), have confirmed the entry of a Falcons development team into the local A-grade competition next year.
“It wasn’t easy getting it over the line. I had to sell the case to all the clubs in the league and go through a voting process,” Henderson said.
“We got the nod so now we don’t have a lot of time, but we’ve got to get something in place and do it well.”
The new side will operate under a defined team selection model, requiring a mix of open-age, under-21 and under-19 players to be selected each week, and is designed to strengthen the pathway for local talent into the Hostplus Cup squad.
“It’s an opportunity for local kids to progress and still have a pathway into the Falcons for a long period of time,” Henderson said.
“It’s also an opportunity for some of our Queensland Cup-level players to get games together rather than being filtered out across nine different clubs.”
Want more free local news? Follow Sunshine Coast News on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, and sign up for our FREE daily news email.
Attention has now turned to the Falcons’ Hostplus Cup squad, with most of the 2025 playing group remaining at the club and recruitment scaled back compared to recent seasons.
“I think we’ve recruited around seven or eight this year, so not as big as what we did last year,” Henderson said.
“We’ve had a much smaller turnover in roster, so our retention has been quite good.”
Key signings include the return of middle forward Wyatt Reynolds from North Devils and winger Nat McGavin from Redcliffe Dolphins.
“Having Nat McGavin, a local junior, come back to the club is a massive get for us,” Henderson said.
“He left us three years ago and has had some great success at strong clubs since he’s been gone. It’s enormous to have him back.”
Other recruits include halves Tom Casey and Josh Lynn, along with middle forward Brock Parker.
While the Falcons’ new relationship with the Broncos stops short of a feeder arrangement, Mr Henderson said the absence of weekly NRL players would bring consistency.
“The team that trains all week will get to play,” he said.
“We’ve got to stand on our own two feet now. We’ve got the roster to be consistently strong — we’re training well, we just have to keep building.”
Despite maintaining realistic expectations, Henderson said the club remained hopeful heading into the season.
“We’re certainly not one of the most financial clubs, so we probably start behind the eight ball every year,” he said.
“Every team that goes deep needs a bit of luck with injuries — and we haven’t had much of that the last few years. So, fingers crossed this is our year.”
Leadership will also look different in 2026, with captain Patrice Siolo departing for Redcliffe Dolphins after five seasons with the Falcons.
“With Patrice gone, we’re really relying on Sam Burns to pick up where he left off,” Henderson said.
“Sam’s a natural leader — he’s the one that stands out the most. It’s not just how many games he plays; it’s the way he plays them.”
However, Henderson said competition for places would remain strong.
“We’ve also got to evolve, and we’ve got some good young locals like Kaleb Sutton who’s ready to push for someone like Burns’ spot consistently,” he said.
“I’m not saying that’s what will happen but Sam knows he’s got to play good football to keep some players out.”
The Falcons will take on the Broncos in a pre-season clash at Sunshine Coast Stadium on February 14.
