Sport
16 September, 2025
‘Sh*thouse to penthouse’
THE Stanley River Wolves have written themselves into Sunshine Coast rugby league history, breaking a 46-year drought to claim both the A Grade and Reserve Grade premierships at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday, September 14.
It was a momentous day for the club, which last tasted premiership glory in 1979. Club president Sam Cooper said, they were “absolutely ecstatic” with the results.
“Super proud of the boys, proud of the club. It’s just fantastic feeling,” he said.
Players, coaches, and supporters erupted in celebration as the Wolves secured back-to-back victories on grand final day, sealing a perfect finish to their 2025 season after being at the bottom of the ladder last year.
A Grade captain Ben King summarised the teams victories best when accepting the trophy: ”We went from the sh*thouse to the penthouse and are the 2025 premiers, so I’ll leave it at that.”
Mr Cooper credited a shift in culture and key coaching additions to their remarkable turnaround.
“I think the major thing was a little shift in culture, and the addition of Daniel Green into the coaching ranks. I think that’s what helped us get over the line,” he said.
The A Grade side clinched a nail-biting 22–20 win over the Maroochydore Swans in a contest that went down to the wire. Despite a 6-20 scoreboard at half-time, the Wolves managed to come back swinging in the second half, preventing any further tries from Maroochydore, while crossing the try line another three times themselves.
Both teams crossed for four tries apiece, but the boot of Corey Herdegen proved decisive. Herdegen not only scored one of Stanley’s tries but also landed three crucial conversions, giving the Wolves the edge. In the end, his efforts landed him Player of the Match title.
Tries from Regan Glynn and Herdegen, combined with their defensive grit in the closing stages, ensured Stanley held on against a fast-finishing Maroochydore outfit.
Stanley’s Reserve Grade side laid the platform for the celebrations in the game prior, with a commanding 22–12 victory over Coolum. The Wolves ran in four tries through Adam Otter, Jackson Sambrooks, Matthew Stewart and Jayden Taufa. Sambrooks was outstanding, adding a try of his own and slotting three conversions to keep Coolum at bay.
Despite not scoring, Stanley’s Five-Eighth, Jacob Tobok, was celebrated for his efforts, taking home the Player of the Match medal for the Reserve team.
Despite strong efforts from Coolum’s Harvey Moore and Blake Batton, the Wolves proved too strong, controlling possession and turning their chances into points.
Mr Cooper praised the club’s supporters, calling them “fantastic”, while also acknowledging both opponents and the hard fight they put on.
“I was always confident of the boys even when the scores didn’t look great,” he said.
“I did say to them: I don’t want to wait another 46 years—12 months would be great.
