At their recent Season Launch, the Wynnum Manly Seagulls officially announced the launch of the Seagulls Women’s Program.
The exciting news comes as the Board of Directors have reset their strategic plan to include a Seagulls Women’s pathway over the next two years.
2021 will see the Seagulls enter into the Harvey Norman Women’s Under 19s Competition and in 2022, the Seagulls will join the BHP Premiership.
Jacy Carter, Jayda Lofipo and Sierra Maple at the 2021 Season Launch. Photo: Jim O’Reilly
Seagulls legend and two-time Brisbane Rugby League A-Grade premiership winning coach Ron Troutman has been appointed Head Coach to the Seagulls Harvey Norman Women’s Under 19s side.
Troutman is excited to work with the Seagulls Women’s Program and believes 2021 is an important step towards long-term success.
“The progression that the girls have made over the past 3 months has been outstanding,” said Troutman.
“The skill level that the girls have shown through the trials will create an exciting brand of football in the up and coming round games.”
Kennedy Harrison takes the ball up against the Falcons at their trial on February 19. Photo: Jim O’Reilly.
Overseeing the Seagulls Women’s Program will be newly installed Head of Seagulls Academy, Michael Dobson.
Dobson takes over from Glen Dreger, who did an enormous amount of work setting up the Harvey Norman Women’s Under 19s program from scratch before taking up a role with the Brisbane Broncos.
In addition to the new statewide teams, the Seagulls are launching Girls Academy squads from 2021 as well which will support the growth of the women’s game locally.
The Seagulls welcome founding Principal Partner of the Seagulls Women’s Program, BMD – with the teams officially known as BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls Women.
Seagulls celebrate during their trial against the Falcons on February 19. Photo: Jim O’Reilly.
Fellow major partners of the Men’s Programs, Job Connect and Bartons, are also major supporters of the Seagulls Women’s Program.
Joan Pease MP is also supporting the program in its foundational year and there has been enormous interest from local businesses to the initiative.
Seagulls CEO Hanan Laban is excited that the club can offer a new pathway for aspiring female players.
“The Wynnum Manly Seagulls football club is community focussed and it is important that our programs are representative of all people in our community,” Laban said.
“We are very proud to now be able to offer a pathway not just for aspiring male athletes in our local communities, but also the aspiring female players who dream of playing in the BHP Premiership or NRLW competitions.
“The Club is putting a strong investment into our Seagulls Women’s Program and we are looking forward to growing opportunities and pathways for young female players.”
The Wynnum Manly Seagulls raced out of the gate however defensive lapses later in the match saw the Tweed Heads Seagulls finish on top 36-28 at Bill Norris Oval.
Wynnum Manly transferred the match to the home ground of their Brisbane Rugby League affiliate club Beenleigh Pride and a huge crowd turned out to watch the Intrust Super Cup trial.
Matiu Love-Henry runs out to a packed Bill Norris Oval. Photo: Jim O’Reilly.
In the opening 25 minutes, the crowd were treated to some entertaining attacking football, as the Baysiders scored four tries in quick succession.
Jack Campagnolo opened the account in the 6th minute with some great footwork near the line to score the first points.
The Tully product then converted his own try to make it 6-0.
Jack Campagnolo crossed for the opening try. Photo: Jim O’Reilly.
5 minutes later, Matiu Love-Henry ran a strong line on the left edge and dived over from close range.
Campagnolo converted again to make it 12-0.
In the 14th minute, TC Robati made a powerful carry and then offloaded to a charging Selwyn Cobbo who put the ball under the posts.
Selwyn Cobbo in full flight. Photo: Jim O’Reilly.
The half did not miss the conversion in front of the posts and the score was 18-0.
At the 27th minute, some quick thinking by Tristan Hope saw Tom Farr get the ball and power his way over the line.
Tom Farr scores out wide. Photo: Jim O’Reilly.
Campagnolo would miss the conversion out wide leaving the score at 22-0.
Despite a fast start by Wynnum, Tweed managed to secure a run of possession and hit back with three tries of their own before half time to Stuart Mason (32′), Talor Walters (37′) and Liam Hampson (40′).
Luke Jurd and Lindon McGrady hit three conversions and the score was 22-18 at halftime.
Tweed continued their confident run of form into the second half, with Walters dotting over for a second in the 42nd minute.
Jurd converted and Tweed jumped in front for the first time to make it 24-22.
A deft kick by Will Parslow and great hands from Emanuel Tuimavave-Gerrard saw the centre score under the posts for Wynnum to take the lead again.
Campagnolo made no mistake with the extra points and the score was 28-24.
However it would be the last points that the Baysiders would take, as Tweed stormed home on the back of retained possession, scoring tries to Kody Parsons (62′) and Jack Mackin (69′).
McGrady landed both conversions and the match ended up 36-28.
The match was called 8 minutes from time as Tweed backrower Brandon Russell suffered a hip injury and received medical attention.
Brisbane Broncos affiliate players Issac Luke and Keenan Palasia have been named to play in the Seagulls’ second trial against the Tweed Heads Seagulls on Saturday afternoon at Bill Norris Oval.
Luke was recently a part of the New Zealand Maori All Stars squad, where he played 31 minutes off the bench in the 10-all draw with the Indigenous All Stars in Townsville last Saturday.
The 286 game NRL veteran will be making his first career appearance for the Seagulls, and will be looking to build combinations in his first outing.
Palasia is no stranger to the Bayside faithful, where he has come up through the grades since first playing as a 17 year old in the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup squad over five years ago.
The skillful forward made his NRL debut for the Broncos in 2019 and his last match in the Red and Green was the 2019 Intrust Super Cup grand final.
Joining the two NRL stars will be a number of emerging youth players at the club who will be looking to impress Adam Brideson as they push for a Round 1 jersey.
The match kicks off at 5pm on Saturday afternoon at Bill Norris Oval.
If you are unable to make the game, the match will be livestreamed by Seagulls TV on the Seagulls Facebook page.
Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Tweed Heads Seagulls Trial 2 – 27 February at Bill Norris Oval
“I was really impressed with how we went on Friday night,” said Bateman.
“After our in-house trial, we spoke a lot about our defence because it was not up to scratch that day and the improvement was enormous.
“The defensive areas we have been focusing on at training over the last few weeks, everyone (has taken) them on board and worked hard, and it definitely showed on the field which was fantastic.”
Whilst he was happy with the defensive efforts, Bateman identified that they will need to make some improvements to their attack over the next two trials against Tweed Heads Seagulls (February 27 at Bill Norris Oval) and Easts Tigers (March 6 at Totally Workwear Stadium).
Luke Bateman runs out onto Kitchener Park on Friday night. Photo: Jim O’Reilly
“I thought our attack needs to be better, our ball handling and completion were not where they need to be and it stopped us from building pressure.
“There were stages where we could have completed our sets and built pressure (on Brisbane), but we would turn the ball over and let them off the hook.”
Bateman is settling in well to BMD Kougari Oval and has loved his first few months on the Bayside.
Luke Bateman cracks a smile at training. Photo: Jim O’Reilly
“I’ve really enjoyed my first preseason at Wynnum, it’s been one of the more enjoyable one’s I’ve had over the years.
“From the very get-go, everyone in the club from the administration staff down to the rookies, were very welcoming and helpful in making me feel comfortable (at Wynnum).
“I’ve really enjoyed the camaraderie and mateship amongst the players – all the new recruits feel like we have fitted in immediately once getting here and that speaks volumes of the culture at Wynnum, and the people leading it.”
And the pair didn’t disappoint with a host of strong carries and tough defence in a big first half effort that laid the foundation for three slick Broncos tries in the opening half.
Max Elliott and Aaron Rockley bring down Matt Lodge. Photo: Jim O’Reilly
Broncos winger Dale Copley opened the scoring in the fifth minute, touching down in the left corner after a lovely 15-metre cut-out pass from fullback Walsh.
Sadly, it was the last action Copley would see as he was taken straight off after scoring, still feeling the effects of high contact to his throat in one of the first carries of the game.
Brisbane was in again when backrower Leivaha Pulu muscled his way over in the 10th minute off the back of a barnstorming Ethan Bullemor bust up the middle.
Harrison Graham takes a run from dummy half. Photo: Jim O’Reilly
Broncos winger Dale Copley opened the scoring in the fifth minute, touching down in the left corner after a lovely 15-metre cut-out pass from fullback Walsh.
Sadly, it was the last action Copley would see as he was taken straight off after scoring, still feeling the effects of high contact to his throat in one of the first carries of the game.
Brisbane was in again when backrower Leivaha Pulu muscled his way over in the 10th minute off the back of a barnstorming Ethan Bullemor bust up the middle.
Jack Campagnolo takes the line on. Photo: Jim O’Reilly
The kick by Walsh was successful to make it 10-0, but Wynnum hit back in the 13th minute when fullback Selwyn Cobbo sliced through on the left edge to make it 10-4.
Interestingly, Cobbo would later turn out in a Broncos jersey, playing for the NRL side in the second half of the match.
Winger Isaiah Tass extended the Broncos’ lead however in the 26th minute when he picked up a nice short-side pass from Tyson Gamble to score in the left corner. Walsh slotted a lovely conversion from the touchline to make it 16-6.
The Seagulls dragged it back to 16-10 with a fine individual try to Jack Campagnolo, who produced two big left-foot steps to beat Albert Kelly and Pulu, before stretching out to score. Campagnolo then converted his own try.
The Seagulls drew level with 15 minutes to go after Sebastian Winters-Chang showed some nice footwork after latching onto a cross kick and score out wide. Campagnolo levelled up the contest with a successful kick from the left touchline.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters put Lodge, Pangai, Bullemor and the slick Walsh back in for a final stint and it paid dividends, with big metres made up the middle.
Bullemor crashed over with six minutes to go to regain the lead for the Broncos, with the try converted by Josh James for a 22-16 lead.
However, Wynnum hit back again with one of the tries of the night, when a kick pinballed into the midfield for big centre Emanuel Tuimavave-Gerrard to pick up and score next to the posts.
In addition to Lodge, Pangai and Walsh, five-eighth Gamble and hooker Kobe Hetherington had strong games for the Broncos.
Sam Scarlett puts a kick through. Photo: Jim O’Reilly
For the Seagulls, new signing Campagnolo was heavily involved, while up front Max Elliott made his presence known in defence.
Some players from Wynnum Manly Seagulls will be in action again tonight at Bishop Park when they take on Norths Devils in four grades, with the Intrust Super Cup game to kick off at 7pm.
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 22 (Selwyn Cobbo, Jack Campagnolo, Sebastian Winters-Chang, Emanuel Tuimavave-Gerrard tries; Jack Campagnolo 3 goals) drew with Brisbane Broncos 22 (Dale Copley, Leivaha Pulu, Isaiah Tass, Ethan Bullemor tries; Reece Walsh 2, Joshua James goals) at Kitchener Park
