Written by Clare Quilty

Round 21 of the Hostplus Cup kicked off Old Gulls Day at Kougari Oval on Sunday afternoon. The day celebrated the 1986 A Grade side, which claimed the Brisbane Rugby League premiership against Brothers under captain-coach Wally Lewis.

Lewis returned to Kougari Oval for the celebrations, making a special appearance as the Seagulls honoured the team and its 40-year legacy.

The BMD Premiership side opened the afternoon with a strong 22-14 win over the Falcons before the Hostplus Cup Seagulls took on the competition’s ladder leaders.

The Falcons came out firing, opening the scoring in the eighth minute before extending their advantage to 10-0 nine minutes later.

Wynnum-Manly responded with determined defensive efforts, but struggled to turn their opportunities into points as the visitors continued to control the contest.

Sunshine Coast continued pressing late in the half, crossing again in the 23rd and 38th minutes to take a 22-0 advantage before the break.

Facing a mountain to climb, the Seagulls returned from half-time with renewed energy.

The Falcons were first to score after the break, before Wynnum-Manly opened their account in the 57th minute through prop Joshua Coric. Alex Lobb’s conversion brought the score to 22-6.

The Seagulls clawed back some ground through their wingers, with Alex Lobb crossing in the 61st minute before Garry Tuilekutu found the line soon after.

The Falcons hit back with seven minutes remaining, but Wynnum-Manly continued to fight until the final whistle. Jordan Swann crossed in the 76th minute, with Alex Lobb adding the extras to keep comeback hopes alive. Despite a spirited second-half, the Seagulls were unable to close the gap on the competition’s top side.

The Wynnum-Manly Seagulls’ Hostplus Cup and BMD Premiership squads will both return to action next Sunday against the Souths Logan Magpies at Davies Park in Brisbane.

Written by Clare Quilty

The Wynnum-Manly Seagulls showed plenty of early promise but were unable to maintain their strong start, going down 26-6 to the Ipswich Jets in their rescheduled BMD Premiership Round 2 clash.

The Seagulls hit the scoreboard through Emily Whittaker in the opening minutes, with Aaliyah Konui adding the extras to hand the hosts a 6-0 lead after an energetic opening.

Ipswich responded with a converted try midway through the opening half before edging ahead with another four-pointer to take a 12-6 lead into halftime.

Despite the deficit, the Seagulls women continued to fight until the final whistle, showing plenty of determination as the Jets extended their lead with a converted try before adding two late tries to secure the victory.

While the scoreboard didn’t fall Wynnum’s way, the Seagulls will take plenty of positives from their bright opening and determined effort against the Jets.

With four rounds of regular season footy remaining and sitting 11th on the ladder, the BMD Seagulls are determined to make a late-season push towards finals contention.

Wynnum-Manly’s next challenge comes against the Burleigh Bears at UAA Park on the Gold Coast next Saturday.

Written by Clare Quilty

Round 19 of the Hostplus Cup featured a Seagulls derby, with Wynnum-Manly overpowering Tweed to secure their third straight win.

The Country Round clash saw Wynnum-Manly travel south to Warwick’s Father Ranger Oval on Sunday, where a commanding performance propelled the Seagulls into third on the ladder.

Wynnum-Manly set the tone early, with prop Joshua Coric crossing in the opening minutes. Alex Lobb converted the try before Jordan Swann extended the lead four minutes later.

Five-eighth Talatau Amone continued Wynnum-Manly’s explosive start, crossing in the 8th minute before Tweed responded with their first points four minutes later. Amone then added his second try of the afternoon in the 18th minute.

Captain Brendan Frei added another four-pointer five minutes before the break, while Alex Lobb remained perfect with the boot to send Wynnum-Manly into the sheds holding a comfortable 28-0 lead.

The Seagulls picked up where they left off after the break, with Garry Tuilekutu and Cameron Bukowski scoring within the opening seven minutes, before Jamal Shibasaki celebrated his 50th Queensland Rugby League appearance with the first of his three-try haul in the 53rd minute.

Tweed managed to respond with a try in the 59th minute, but the visitors were unable to convert either attempt before Shibasaki struck again in the 67th minute.

The milestone man delivered the final blow, completing his hat-trick two minutes from full-time to seal a memorable afternoon for Wynnum-Manly. Alex Lobb capped off his own impressive performance, converting nine of Wynnum-Manly’s 10 tries to contribute to the team’s clinical display.

The Seagulls will aim for a fourth consecutive win next Saturday at UAA Park against the Burleigh Bears.

The BMD Premiership women’s side returns on Sunday, hosting the Ipswich Jets at BMD Kougari Oval in their rescheduled Round 2 meeting, with the Seagulls eager to overturn last year’s 28-20 loss.

In other weekend results, the BRL A Grade side fell 30-18 to the Valleys Diehards at Frank Lind Oval. They will look to rebound in Round 18 when they face Carina Tigers at Leo William Oval

Written by Clare Quilty

The Wynnum-Manly Seagulls continued their strong run of form with a commanding 52-22 victory over the Ipswich Jets at BMD Kougari Oval on Sunday, producing one of their standout Hostplus Cup performances of the season.

Celebrating Indigenous Round, the Seagulls produced a dominant attacking display to extend their impressive record against the Jets, winning six of their last seven home games against Ipswich.

The Seagulls exploded out of the blocks, with Garry Tuilekutu crossing in the opening minutes before adding his second just five minutes later. Alex Lobb’s boot handed Wynnum an early 10-0 lead.

The attacking momentum continued, with Joshua Coric crossing in the 10th minute, followed by Antonio Verhoeven four minutes later. Lobb converted both tries as Wynnum continued to pile on the pressure.

Alex Lobb joined the try-scorers in the 16th minute, extending Wynnum’s lead before the Jets hit back with two tries to close the gap.

Wynnum quickly regained control through Talatau Amone’s try in the 29th minute, before Lobb added his second of the afternoon.

Tuilekutu capped off a remarkable opening half by completing his hat-trick in the 38th minute, with Lobb’s conversion sending the Seagulls into the sheds with a commanding 40-10 halftime lead.

The winger continued his outstanding afternoon, scoring his fourth try in the 47th minute as Wynnum maintained their dominance.

Bayley Sironen added another four-pointer in the 55th minute before Tieran Ross crossed in the 64th minute, sealing a convincing 52-22 victory for the Seagulls.

Tuilekutu’s four-try masterclass was rewarded with the Lionel Morgan Medal, honouring the trailblazing legacy of the first Indigenous rugby league player to represent Australia.

Coach Mathew Head praised Tuilekutu’s instinctive finishing ability, highlighting his knack for turning opportunities others may miss into points.

The win propelled Wynnum into sixth on the Hostplus Cup ladder, setting up a Round 19 Seagulls Derby against Tweed in Warwick. The Country Week clash continues the competition’s tradition of taking elite rugby league to regional communities and giving fans the chance to see the game’s emerging stars in action.

In other weekend results, the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls BMD Premiership side fell just short against the Mackay Cutters, going down 16-14 at BMD Kougari Oval on Sunday.

Players wore purple ribbons as part of a BMD Premiership initiative recognising the impact of domestic and family violence following the recent death of Toowoomba woman Jana Armstrong.

After trailing 16-0 at halftime, Wynnum mounted a spirited second-half comeback but couldn’t find the match-winning play.

The Seagulls women will aim to bounce back in a rescheduled Round 2 clash against the Ipswich Jets at BMD Kougari Oval.

Written by Clare Quilty, Photo by Riley Harland

Wynnum-Manly returned to the winner’s circle Saturday afternoon, defeating the Central Queensland Capras 36-10.

The home crowd was treated to a full afternoon of football, with the Broncos and Dolphins opening the NRLQ Series before the Hostplus Cup clash took over.

The Seagulls wasted little time asserting their dominance, striking in the third minute when centre Jordan Swann brushed through defenders to open the scoring.

Central Queensland searched for opportunities throughout the opening half, but the Seagulls’ defensive line stood tall, repeatedly pushing back attacking raids.

The hosts extended their lead through a sharp passage of play sparked by Alex Lobb. A quick play-the-ball allowed Cassius Cowley to dart from dummy-half, slicing through the middle before finding Tieran Ross in support, who crossed for Wynnum-Manly’s second try.

With the clock winding down before half-time, the Seagulls earned a penalty directly in front of the posts, with Lobb slotting the goal to send his side into the sheds with a 12-0 advantage.

Any hopes of a Capras comeback were quickly dashed after the break.

Alex Lobb produced one of the plays of the afternoon, intercepting a pass and racing the length of the field to score early in the second half.

Momentum continued to swing Wynnum-Manly’s way when Garry Tuilekutu backed up on the edge to cross out wide, before another Swann line break from a kick return put the Seagulls on the attack. The field position paid dividends, with Cowley crossing over in the 64th minute.

Lobb capped off an outstanding individual performance with his second try of the afternoon, converting his own effort to further stretch the margin.

The Capras finally opened their account inside the final ten minutes, but the Seagulls responded immediately, Jordan Grant crossing for Wynnum-Manly’s sixth try, with Lobb again adding the extras.

Central Queensland managed a late consolation try,  leaving the final score 36-10.

Relentless defense and capitalising on Capra’s errors proved the difference,  with Wynnum-Manly now back inside the top eight.

The Seagulls face the Northern Pride in Cairns for Round 12, while the BMD Premiership side opens its season at Kougari Oval against the Central Queensland Capras.

Written by Clare Quilty

Wynnum-Manly tested the table-toppers, falling just short 38-30 against the Sunshine Coast in Round 10 of the Queensland Cup.

A windy Saturday afternoon at Sunshine Coast Stadium opened with the women’s BMD trial, where the Seagulls overran the Falcons 32-0.

With both Hostplus Cup sides refreshed after a bye, Wynnum-Manly arrived ready to rough up the turf and snap the Falcons’ seven-game winning streak.

The Seagulls struck first, with winger Garry Tuilekutu breaking the line before lock Jamie Hill crossed in the 4th minute.

The Falcons responded, clawing back with three tries of their own. Wynnum-Manly’s defence held firm, resiliently shutting down back-to-back attempts to score on their own line.

Forward Jamal Shibasaki pounced on a Falcons’ error to secure possession. Late momentum swung the Seagulls’ way, with Alex Lobb scoring out wide seconds before the whistle, reducing the deficit to 20-10 at half-time.

Hungry to topple the in-form Falcons, centre Jordan Swann crashed over in the 46th minute to score his second career try.

Captain Bayley Sironen followed suit, scoring in the 50th minute. Alex Lobb’s reliable boot added the extras, levelling the scores at 20-20.

Swann struck again, completing the double and edging the Seagulls ahead in the 55th minute.

The Falcons fired back with three quick tries and a late penalty goal to stretch the margin 38-24.

Wynnum-Manly held their nerve late, with a determined Temple Kalepo crossing over in the 79th minute. Another Lobb conversion sealed the score at 38-30, with the Seagulls’ spirited campaign coming up short against the Falcons.

The match marked fullback Ben Farr’s 50th QRL appearance, with the Seagulls’ second-half surge underlining their ability against the competition’s top sides.

The weekend wrapped up on Sunday with a full day of BRL at Kougari Oval, with A Grade narrowly losing to a tough Dolphins outfit.

The Hostplus Cup returns home next Saturday, with Wynnum-Manly hosting the Central Queensland Capras.

Our BRL A Grade side travelled to Meakin Park over the weekend to take on the Logan Pride, while our Hostplus Cup and BMD Premiership teams enjoyed the bye.

The match saw four of our Mal Meninga Grand Finalists step up into the BRL A Grade side, with Nate Wallin, Tristan MacDonald, Brodie Hilt and Harrison Bath all making their debuts following their tough loss to the Blackhawks.

The game got off to a strong start, with debutant Tristan MacDonald scoring the opening try. He was followed by efforts from Toni Tupounia, Tahj Amone and Topaz Mohi, all successfully converted by Lachlan Hanneghan. Mal Meninga graduate, Nate Wallin, then went on to score a double, before Ethan Unicomb sealed the result.

In a commanding display, the Logan Pride were held to just one try, with the final score finishing 36–4 in our favour.

Written by Clare Quilty

Wynnum-Manly held on against the Norths Devils, bringing home a gritty 16-14 win in Round 9 of the Hostplus Cup.

Well-rested off the back of a bye, the Seagulls were out to snap a two-game skid against the Devils.

The win rounded out a full day of footy at Kougari Oval, following the women’s BMD Premiership trial with the NRLW Broncos, an exciting taste of what’s to come before their season opener against the Central Queensland Capras June 7.

After a back-and-forth start, the Seagulls hit the front in the 18th minute through Alex Lobb. In his first Queensland Cup season, the winger crossed out wide for his fifth career try.

The Devils responded in the 31st minute, capitalising on the Seagulls’ errors to score. Undeterred, Garry Tuilekutu showed safe hands to defuse a difficult kick bomb, maintaining possession after hitting the turf. Chasing a half-time lead, hooker Temple Kalepo crashed over in the next set, with Alex Lobb adding the conversion to send the Seagulls into the sheds 10-4 ahead.

Momentum continued in a tight second-half, as forward Joshua Coric powered over under the posts, backed by another Lobb conversion.

The Devils struck in the 72nd minute, tightening the score to a nail-biting 16-14, but the Seagulls held on, sealing a home-ground win.

Defence underpinned the squad’s victory, with Seagulls five-eighth Cassius Cowley topping the tackle count with 38 in a tireless display. Out-muscled and under pressure, Norths missed 45 tackles to Wynnum-Manly’s 24 across the 80 minutes.

The win shifts the Seagulls into the top eight, a confidence boost ahead of the bye. They return in Round 10 against the ladder-leading Sunshine Coast Falcons.

In other weekend results, Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium hosted the Mal Meninga Cup grand final, the Seagulls facing the Townsville Blackhawks in another pressure-cooker clash. In a heartbreaking finish, Townsville edged Wynnum-Manly 21-20. A strong showing from the Under-19 Seagulls squad in their first grand final since 2019, falling just short against a Blackhawks outfit hardened by decider appearances in 2021, 2022 and 2023.