Decorated pace bowler Cameron Gannon will bring his career full-circle this summer with confirmation he has returned to Queensland for the 2026-27 season.
The experienced Gannon is one of the key additions to the Bulls’ contracted player list, that also features a host of rising Australian cricket prospects.
With Cricket Australia contracts held by Marnus Labuschage, Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett, Queensland Cricket has secured 19 players to full contracts and a further four players to rookie deals.
Gannon claimed the Laurie Sawle Medal as Western Australia’s best male player last season after taking a career-high 42 Shield wickets for WA.
He made his debut for the Bulls in 2010, going on to play 30 first class games before shifting west where he added a further 36 games, taking 136 wickets for his adopted State.
In all, Gannon has claimed 209 first class wickets at 26.72.
There are four changes to the Bulls main contracted player list.
Queensland has awarded full-time contracts to pace bowlers Tom Balkin and Jem Ryan, who were both on the Rookie list last season before they made eye-catching initial appearances in the season.
Balkin, who impressed on debut for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL, made his first class and List A debuts for Queensland across the second half of the season.
Ryan claimed 12 wickets in three Sheffield Shield games after making his first class debut in February this year.
Queensland has also added a back-up wicket-keeper for Jimmy Peirson, signing Valley gloveman Dylan McLachlan to his initial Bulls contract.
McLachlan, 27, made his Bulls debut in February 2024 when he played in a One Day Cup game for Queensland against South Australia, scoring 44.
He has captained the Queensland Indigenous squad at the National Indigenous Cricket Championships for the past two years, winning player of the match in last year’s title win in Mackay.
There are four new Rookie contracted players in 2026-27, with each representing Australia at Under-19 level in recent seasons.
Sandgate-Redcliffe batter Steven Hogan and Ipswich pace bowler Charlie Lachmund were members of the Australian side that made the semi-finals of the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup tournament in Namibia and Zimbabwe earlier this year.
Lachmund, who attended Toowoomba Grammar School, finished as Australia’s leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps.
Hogan, 18, scored 115 against Ireland at the World Cup, his highest score and one of two centuries he has scored in 11 Youth ODIs and three Youth Tests for his country.
Wests batter Tom Campbell, a member of Australia’s 2024 ICC Under-19 World Cup championship squad alongside Bulls players Hugh Weibgen, Tom Straker and Callum Vidler, earns a Rookie deal for the first time.
He was a strong performer last season in Queensland’s unbeaten Toyota Second XI team, scoring 335 runs at 67.
Left-arm paceman Oli Patterson also earns his maiden Rookie deal after a breakthrough season that saw the Sydney teenager produce a stand-out effort in the KFC T20 Max competition that led to a contract with the Brisbane Heat and a one day debut for Queensland.
There were six players who have dropped off the Queensland list for the coming season.
Usman Khawaja has retired while batter Max Bryant, pace bowlers Gurinder Sandhu and Benji Floros, spinner Zanden Jeh and wicket-keeper Lachy Aitken were not contracted for 2026-27.
QC General Manager - High Performance Bennett King acknowledged the contributions of the players who moved off the Bulls list.
“We are grateful for the commitment that each of the players have made to Queensland in the past. On behalf of Queensland Cricket, we wish them every success for the future,’’ he said.
“We will monitor their performances and progress in the Queensland Premier Cricket competition across the summer,” King said.
“We’re pleased to welcome some exciting talent to our list this season, with several of Australia’s most promising prospects joining us on a full-time basis.
“It is also a pleasure to welcome home Cameron Gannon who has produced some excellent efforts for WA in recent seasons and will fill an important role for us across the year,” King said.
The Bulls finished third in the Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup competitions, fallng one point short in the DOD competition and one win shy of making the Shield decider.
Queensland Cricket will release the Queensland Fire contracted player list tomorrow.
Cricket Australia Contracted – Queensland
Xavier Bartlett (Gold Coast)
Marnus Labuschagne (Redlands)
Michael Neser (Gold Coast)
2026-27 Queensland Bulls Squad
Tom Balkin (Toombul) #
Hugo Burdon (Gold Coast)
Jack Clayton (UQ)
Cameron Gannon (WA) *
Lachlan Hearne (Toombul)
Hayden Kerr (Gold Coast)
Angus Lovell (UQ)
Dylan McLachlan (Valley) *
Jimmy Peirson (Redland)
Matthew Renshaw (Toombul)
Jem Ryan (Ipswich) #
Jack Sinfield (Redlands)
Mark Steketee (Valley)
Tom Straker (Valley)
Mitchell Swepson (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
Callum Vidler (Valley)
Hugh Weibgen (Valley)
Tom Whitney (Wests)
Jack Wildermuth (Valley)
* New to squad in 2026-27
# Promoted from 25-26 Rookie list.
2026-27 Rookie Contracts
Tom Campbell (Wests)
Steven Hogan (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
Charlie Lachmund (Ipswich)
Oli Patterson (Wests)
IN: Cameron Gannon, Dylan McLachlan, Oli Patterson, Steven Hogan, Tom Campbell, Charlie Lachmund.
OUT: Gurinder Sandhu, Zanden Jeh, Benji Floros, Lachy Aitken, Max Bryant, Usman Khawaja (retired).