Bowen Man Climbs to the Top of Queensland Footy

Jeff Reidel with Federal member of Dawson, Andrew Willcox MP. Photo sourced: Andrew Willcox Facebook.

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Bowen-born sports administrator Jeff Reibel has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Rugby League, marking another major milestone in a career spanning more than two decades.  

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Reibel will begin the role in November, succeeding Ben Ikin, after spending seven years as Chief Executive Officer of the North Queensland Cowboys. He looks to carry that success through to the QRL, looking to build on an already strong foundation.  

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“It's an incredible honour to join the Queensland Rugby League and contribute to an organisation that plays such an important role in the fabric of our state,” Jeff said.

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“Rugby league in Queensland has a proud history and a vibrant future, and I’m excited to work alongside our clubs, participants, volunteers, partners and communities to help strengthen the game at every level.”

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Born and raised in Bowen, Reibel studied at James Cook University, completing a Master of Business Administration before launching his rugby league career as Team Manager of the Cowboys' under-17 side in 1997.

He worked his way through the football ranks, starting by driving the team bus, washing jerseys and doing whatever was needed as manager of the Cowboys' under-17 side.  

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After progressing through several football operations roles, he moved into the commercial side of the game with stints at the Gold Coast Titans and Stone Brothers Racing before returning to the Cowboys in 2015. Four years later, he was appointed the club's chief executive officer.

During his most recent tenure, Reibel helped oversee some of the club's biggest milestones, including the move to Queensland Country Bank Stadium, the development of new high-performance facilities, the launch of the Cowboys' NRLW team and guiding the organisation through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

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He also played a key role in strengthening the club's commercial position, with the Cowboys emerging as one of the NRL's strongest off-field organisations.

“Jeff is an outstanding leader with a proven track record of success in rugby league, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Queensland Rugby League," said QRL Chair Brian Canavan.  

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“His experience leading one of the NRL's premier clubs, combined with his deep understanding of the game and strong commitment to community outcomes, makes him exceptionally well placed to guide the QRL into its next phase of growth."

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“Rugby league in Queensland is in an incredibly strong position, and we are confident Jeff's leadership, strategic vision and passion for the game will help us continue to build on that momentum for the benefit of our clubs, participants, volunteers and fans across the state.”

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