Brothers Cairns RLFC would like to welcome our new Head of Rugby League, David Scott. David brings a wealth of knowledge and passion into the role and we would like to share with you a message from him as he moves into his new role with the club:
“I’m proud to be joining Cairns Brothers Rugby League Club as the club’s new Head of Rugby League. I’m genuinely excited to step into the role during such a significant moment in the club’s history. With Brothers celebrating its 100-year anniversary and the opening of a new $18 million state-of-the-art facility, this is an incredible foundation for the club’s next chapter.
I’ve worked in and around rugby league at both a grassroots community level and within elite youth performance systems. My experience includes roles within the Hull FC (UK Super League) system and the Northern Pride (Queensland Cup), with a focus on pathways development, coach education, talent identification, and athlete welfare.
After finishing my playing career, I moved into the Hull FC Community Foundation, where I delivered engagement outcomes through local schools and stakeholders. I then progressed into the Hull FC Academy, coaching across the U16 and U19 squads in a high-accountability environment where clear decision-making, communication, and consistent standards were essential.
In 2014, I moved to Australia and joined the Northern Pride, where the key challenge was delivering consistent development across a large and geographically diverse region. I’ve coached and supported players across multiple levels locally, including Tully Tigers A Grade, Mal Meninga Cup, Cyril Connell Cup, and HDC Under 21s. I’ve also run regional academies across Far North Queensland, which has given me a strong, practical understanding of rugby league across the region—its talent, its challenges, and the importance of consistency in coaching and development.
I’ve also had the opportunity to contribute internationally to rugby league development. In the Philippines, I helped support the growth of the Philippines National Rugby League from two teams to five, delivered national development programs, and coached the Philippine Tamaraws in the inaugural International Rugby League–sanctioned Asian Championships in Manila in 2025. Additionally, I delivered rugby league development sessions across four universities in Thailand, supporting participation and skill development in emerging rugby league environments. These experiences reinforced the importance of clear systems, stakeholder alignment, and building environments where players and coaches can progress with confidence.
Cairns is a rugby league town, and Brothers is one of the great community clubs in the region. What stands out to me about Brothers is the club’s proud history of player development and the number of players who have graduated to higher honours through the Brothers system. That legacy matters, and I’m excited by the opportunity to help strengthen that tradition—ensuring talented local players are developed well, supported properly, and given a clear pathway to progress.
I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of my predecessor, Tim Rumford, who helped build a strong platform for the club. I’m looking to continue that great work and build on what has been achieved over the past five years. I’m also excited to work alongside Head Coach Jordan, whose success speaks for itself—four premierships in a row is an exceptional achievement. My role will be to support and strengthen the broader rugby league program around that success, ensuring alignment across juniors, colts, and seniors, and helping create the structures and standards that sustain performance long-term.
What excites me most is the opportunity to help take an already strong club to another level—using the new facility and the momentum of recent years to keep building a high-standard, player-centred rugby league environment. I’m looking forward to strengthening pathways, supporting coaches, and ensuring the standards and culture of the club continue to grow while protecting what makes Brothers special.”