Behind the Bindal Sharks: Kerrie Ritchie on the People Who Make Rugby League Happen

IN SPORT On Tour continues its Bindal Sharks series with Kerrie Ritchie, formerly with Queensland Rugby League, sharing a behind-the-scenes perspective on the people, preparation and community that help Indigenous rugby league thrive.

The story of the Bindal Sharks extends far beyond what happens on the football field.

It is a story built through generations of players, families, volunteers, officials and community members who have contributed their time and experience to creating opportunities through rugby league.

As part of the IN SPORT On Tour Bindal Sharks series, Kerrie Ritchie joins the conversation to share another perspective on that story.

Formerly with Queensland Rugby League (QRL) and with more than 15 years of involvement supporting Indigenous rugby league carnivals, Kerrie has experienced first-hand just how much work happens behind the scenes before players ever take the field.

The Work Before the First Whistle

For spectators, a carnival begins when the teams arrive and the first game kicks off.

Behind the scenes, the work begins much earlier.

Kerrie reflects on the weeks of preparation involved in bringing a major Indigenous rugby league carnival together, including player registrations, eligibility requirements, judiciary processes and coordination between teams, officials, volunteers and organisers.

It is detailed work that rarely receives the same attention as the action on the field, but it is essential to creating an organised, professional and welcoming environment for everyone involved.

For community clubs such as the Bindal Sharks, that network of people behind the game helps create the opportunities for players and families to participate in something much bigger than a weekend of football.

A Game Built Around Community

Throughout the conversation, Kerrie reflects on what Indigenous rugby league carnivals represent for the communities that participate in them.

Families travel to reconnect. Generations come together. Friendships are renewed and new ones are created.

Young players have the opportunity to represent their communities while being surrounded by family, mentors and role models.

It is this sense of connection that has helped make rugby league such an important gathering point for communities across Queensland.

For the Bindal Sharks, whose story spans more than four decades, that connection between football and community has remained central to the club’s legacy.

Watching Indigenous Rugby League Evolve

Across more than 15 years of involvement, Kerrie has also witnessed the continued evolution of Indigenous rugby league carnivals.

Teams have become increasingly professional in their preparation and presentation, while the organisation required behind the scenes has continued to grow alongside them.

But despite that evolution, the foundation remains the same: people willing to contribute.

Volunteers, officials, organisers, families and community leaders continue to give their time so that another generation has the opportunity to experience the game and everything that surrounds it.

Another Chapter in the Bindal Sharks Story

Kerrie Ritchie’s conversation forms part of IN SPORT On Tour’s continuing Bindal Sharks series, documenting the people and perspectives connected to the club and Indigenous rugby league in North Queensland.

Alongside the stories of the people who helped establish and grow the Bindal Sharks, Kerrie’s perspective provides an important look at the wider network that allows grassroots rugby league and community carnivals to continue.

Because the legacy of a club is not created by one person or one generation.

It is built by the players who take the field, the families who support them and the people behind the scenes who continue showing up year after year.

Watch Kerrie Ritchie’s full conversation as part of the IN SPORT On Tour Bindal Sharks series on the IN SPORT App.