12 matches [1988-1996; 1998]
9 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw
Stats: themightypanthers.com/results_headtohead_goldcoast.htm
In 1988, the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants was inducted into the then NSWRL, one of three teams alongside Brisbane and Newcastle. The Giants were based at Tweed Heads, just over the border in NSW. This was based on a condition that their fellow newcomers and neighbours Brisbane Broncos were the only team based in Queensland.
Their first meeting was at Penrith Park in May 1988. The visitors were down to 12 men in the opening minutes courtesy of a send off and the Panthers crossed over for seven tries as the Panthers scored a convincing 47-12 victory.
In 1989, the Panthers headed north to Tweed Heads, and scored an equally comprehensive 31-8 win.
In 1990, they were re-named the Gold Coast Seagulls primarily due to the financial backing of the Tweed Head Seagulls rugby league club.
The Panthers would head back to Seagulls Stadium for one off meetings in 1990 and 1991, and headed back south with the premiership points in the bank with 26-4 and 32-6 respectively.
1992 would be the first time that the two teams would meet twice during the regular season. At Penrith Stadium earlier in the season, the defending premiers survived a scare, trailing the less fancied Seagulls 12-8 early in the second half, before escaping to a 16-12 victory. In the final premiership round, the Seagulls prevailed 12-8 to taste victory for the first time over the Panthers, finishing a difficult season for the defending premiers whilst it was the final match of Queensland great Wally Lewis.
From 1993 onwards it reverted back to one off meetings. The 32-18 at Seagulls Stadium in Round 11 was hard fought, trailing twice in the first half and then midway through the second half, before overcoming the hosts for four tries in the final 20 minutes.
In 1994, they met in the opening round at Penrith Stadium. The Panthers trailed 14-10 mid way through the second half before regaining the lead and then holding on for an 18-all draw.
In 1995, at the same venue, the Panthers prevailed in a high scoring affair in late May, winning 48-24.
At the end of 1995, the Seagulls were no more as a name after the leagues club withdrew funding, and after a short lived existence of the Gold Coast Gladiators in the 1996 pre-season, the ARL took over the licence, and the Gold Coast Chargers were born. They shifted across the border into Carrara, deep in the heart of the Gold Coast urban area.
The Panthers travelled to the Gold Coast for the first time since 1992, and won 14-8, in what was the debut future Panthers Hall of Fame inductee Craig Gower.
However, in 1997, the Chargers played in the incumbent ARL competition whilst the Panthers played in the rebel Super League.
The Chargers made the cut to be one of the 20 teams in the newly formed National Rugby League competition starting in 1998. The Chargers would record their second victory over the Panthers in their one off meeting at Carrara Stadium in Round 9.
In December 1998, the Chargers folded and with that ended the Gold Coast’s 11 year association with Australia’s premier rugby league competition.
In 2007, top grade rugby league made a return to the Gold Coast with the introduction of the Titans, however, they were considered to be a different entity, bearing no relationship to the previous incarnation.
Last updated 11 March 2023
The Mighty Panthers 