Sport
26 October, 2025
Thousands watch Indigenous rugby league carnival
MORE than 8000 spectators took in the annual Gordonvale Indigenous Rugby League Carnival at Gordonvale last weekend, a major community event celebrating sport, culture and connection.
Founder Jason Joinbee said this year’s carnival saw 24 men’s teams from across Queensland take the field, stretching from Cherbourg in the south to the Torres Strait Islands in the north, with $50,000 in prize money up for grabs.
“The winners were GH United, who defeated defending premiers Coastal Boas in a thrilling final,” Mr Joinbee said.
Several current and former NRL players joined the competition, with Newcastle Knights star Dane Gagai and his brother Jacob Gagai among the weekend’s biggest drawcards.
But for Mr Joinbee, the carnival is about much more than rugby league.
“It’s not just about football anymore,” he said. “It’s about communities and families coming together, seeing people from different areas reconnect and doing it all in a drug and alcohol-free environment.”
The carnival has grown rapidly since it began in 2013 with just five teams. Now, limited field space is the only thing stopping further expansion.
“We could have more if we had the fields to facilitate it,” Mr Joinbee said. “But we’re proud of what it’s become, a happy, safe meeting place for everyone.”
The event caters to players as young as 17, with opportunities for emerging talent to test themselves against experienced competitors.
“Just go for it,” Mr Joinbee said. “You meet so many new people and it’s a great experience.”
