The 2024 season is officially over for the BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

After a Round 23 loss to the Brisbane Tigers finalised our 8th spot on the ladder, the boys travelled to Port Moresby to take on the PNG Hunters in an elimination final (5th vs 8th).

Faced with the toughest away trip in the competition, our Seagulls weren’t overawed by the challenge. In fact there was part of them seeking redemption for a Rd1 loss, also to the Hunters in Port Moresby.

As with every trip to PNG, the rugby league-mad supporters are everywhere and are thankful to have high quality football on display.

A great crowd came through the gates of the Santos National Football Stadium to watch this do or die clash.

The Seagulls weathered a bruising start from the Hunters, with their typical hard-running, hard-hitting style evident from the outset.

Connor Broadhurst then shocked the home fans when he beat his man to score in the 8th minute.

A successful conversion, and then another penalty from Bryce Donovan, had the Seagulls in front 8-0 after 16 minutes.

To the Hunters’ credit, they were shown an opening and took full advantage to blow the game wide open, scoring in the 20th, 24th and 27th minutes.

The game had flipped on its head and the Hunters now led 16-8.

The Seagulls did their best to hold on, and got back into the arm wrestle to maintain the same score at the halftime break.

The second half started how the first half finished, with a very even battle for possession and territory, and both teams struggling to outdo the other.

However, in the 59th minute, the Hunters capitalised on a Seagulls error and scored a great counter-attacking try.

A late field goal sealed to game for the Hunters, who ran out 23-8 winners.

That is the end of our 2024 season – earlier than we would have liked. But there has been a lot of positive change both on and off the field.

We look forward to a big 2025 season!

#UpTheGulls

Match report presented by George Hartnett Metropolitan Funerals

BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls hosted the Brisbane Tigers in the final round of the Hostplus Cup on Sunday.

Known as our annual Paul Green Medal Day, the final round saw a bumper crowd swarm on BMD Kougari Oval for multiple reasons.

To kick off the day, the Seagulls hosted our 1984 Premiership team for their 40-year anniversary. The event was a full house, with 50% of the proceeds from the lunch going to the Australian Sports Brain Bank – a leading Australian charity that researches the cause and effects of CTE in sportspeople.

Following the lunch, the Wynnum Manly legends played against the Easts legends for the BMD-Bartons Cup. This game is played in memory of Paul Green, who played at Easts and coached Wynnum Manly’s most recent premierships. Wynnum Manly came out on top 16-8.

Paul’s kids, Emerson and Jed, led out the two Hostplus Cup teams onto the field to the tune of Pete Murray’s ‘Seen Better Days’, in QRL’s Turn To Me Round – a men’s mental health initiative.

The Seagulls got off to a flyer and were unlucky to have 2 tries disallowed within the first 10 minutes. They maintained their momentum as Matt Milson sliced through a gap to beat the fullback and score under the posts in the 10th minute.

Sione Hopoate and Connor Broadhurst, after being disallowed earlier, scored in quick succession in the 20th and 24th minutes. 16-0 Seagulls.

The Tigers hit back through former QLD Origin player Chris McQueen, before Ethan Malt pounced on an Easts knock-on and ran 20m to score his first Hostplus Cup try.

Easts snuck in just before the break to take the Seagulls momentum away and bring the score to 22-12 at halftime.

The Tigers were in again shortly after halftime and closed the gap to 22-18. Then in the 59th minute, the Tigers hit the front for the first time 24-22.

Seagulls captain Brendan Frei, led by example and grabbed a Bryce Donovan kick to score under the posts and put his team back in the lead 28-24

Then with 5 minutes to go, the Tigers broke the Seagulls hearts with a try, and successful conversion, to lead 30-28.

A final minute penalty to the Tigers ensured their victory, and confirmed an 8th place finish in the 2024 season for the Seagulls.

This result means a trip to Papua New Guinea to take on the Hunters on Saturday afternoon. The most daunting away trip in the league, but a game that the Seagulls will be up for.

Tune in on QPlus.tv on Saturday at 4pm to watch the Seagulls vs Hunters in an elimination final.

George Hartnett Metropolitan Funerals match report

BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls travelled to Rockhampton for Women In League Round over the weekend to face the Central QLD Capras.

Coming off a 32-12 loss to the 1st-placed Northern Pride in Cooktown the week before, the Seagulls were hoping to get through another big trip and put a win on the board.

Wynnum Manly started well, with a couple of early breaks in an opening 14-minute period of relatively free-flowing football.

The Capras scored first in the 14th minute and unfortunately for the Seagulls, it was one-way traffic from that point on. The Capras then scored 3 more tries to take a 24-0 lead into the halftime break.

Anthony Milford scored first for the Capras in the second half, as the Dolphins-contracted half led his team around the park.

Brendan Frei ran a great line in the 51st minute to get the Seagulls on the scoreboard. Then Josh Stuckey barged his way through defenders in the 54th minutes, creating a glimmer of hope for a comeback.

But being down 30-12 proved too much, as the Capras scored another 3 tries to seal the game, 48-12.

The Seagulls are a lot closer to home for this weekend’s Round 21 away game. We’ll take on the Norths Devils on Sunday at 2:10pm. This is the feature broadcast match of the round, and can be viewed for free on Kayo Freebies, 9Now and QPlus.tv.

Following that, the Seagulls have 2 home games to finish the regular season, against Townsville Blackhawks and then Brisbane Tigers on Paul Green Medal Day.

Match report presented by George Hartnett Metropolitan Funerals

The BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls travelled to Cooktown in Round 19 for QRL’s Country Week.

With the longest distance to travel of any team in the Hostplus Cup this round, the Seagulls faced a tough task to beat the high-flying Northern Pride in their backyard.

Playing out of Cooktown District Junior Rugby League Club, the local community showed great support for rugby league on the day as a good crowd came out to watch.

Northern Pride, buoyed by a number of North QLD Cowboys players, opened the scoring through halfback Thomas Duffy in the 8th minute.

The Seagulls hit back in the 16th minute, as debutant Harry Armstrong picked up a loose Pride offload and got himself over the line from close range.

The next 20 minutes remained scoreless as the Seagulls well and truly held their own against the league’s top team, leading the possession count in an end to end period of the game.

Pride scored just before halftime to take a 12-6 lead into the break.

Another period of end to end footy ensued after the break, with the Pride breaking the arm wrestle in the 57th minute.

The game then opened up as the Pride managed to score 4 tries in 16 minutes to seal the match.

There were encouraging signs for the Seagulls as they matched it with the best team in the competition.

Another away trip in Round 20 will see Wynnum Manly travel to Rockhampton to play the Central QLD Capras on Saturday afternoon.

George Hartnett Metropolitan Funerals Match Report

It was a picturesque afternoon for rugby league as the Seagulls welcomed Souths Logan Magpies to BMD Kougari Oval yesterday.

In the feature match of the round, the two Brisbane Broncos affiliates faced off following mixed results for each team over the past month.

Making the game even more important was that the winner would receive the Mitch Cronin Cup in honour of the former player of both clubs.

The Magpies scored first and opened up a 22-0 lead at halftime. Darius Farmer got the Seagulls on the scoresheet in the 42nd minute, in what the home crowd hoped would be a comeback.

However, the Magpies scored two more tries to blow the game apart at 32-6.

Sione Hopoate got a late consolation try, but the game finished up 40-10.

A tough loss for the Seagulls, which is their 3rd in a row.

In better news, our gameday sponsors Bartons Motor Group and Jayco Brisbane Camperland gave away a car and a caravan for a weekend getaway, in a very generous halftime prize draw.

Wynnum Manly now have the bye, before the whole competition takes a week off. Following that 2 week break, we’re heading to Cooktown for QRL’s Country Week to play the first-placed Northern Pride.

Our next home game is on Saturday 17th of August against the Townsville Blackhawks. Chemist Warehouse will give away upto $5,000 in their Kick For Cash at halftime. To enter the draw, simply spend $30 in store at Chemist Warehouse Wynnum or Tingalpa and mention ‘Kick For Cash’ at the checkout.

 

It was a heartbreaker at BMD Kougari Oval in Round 16 as the Falcons scored in the 79th minute to steal the victory from the Seagulls.

The crowd built through the afternoon as the Wynnum Manly Juniors won games against Carina Tigers in U19 and Open 1’s.

There was an expectation for a great game between two teams close on the ladder, after a tight clash in Round 10 on North Stradbroke Island.

Chris Lewis scored first for the Falcons in the 6th minute as they opened a 6-0 nil lead.

A tight battle ensued as 20 minutes went past without troubling the scorers. The crowd knew they were in for an exciting contest.

The Falcons kicked a penalty goal, shortly before Fua Schwalger, on debut for the Seagulls, then scored in the right corner to get his new team back in the game.

The scored stayed at 8-6 until halftime.

Wynnum Manly hit the front for the first time in the 56th minute when debutant Schwalger was in again, to bring the score to 10-8 Seagulls.

The game entered another 20 minute period where the teams couldn’t be separated, with the football travelling back and forth but both defences remaining strong.

Sunshine Coast made a break up field in the 74th minute and Connor Broadhurst made a great covering chase and tackle. Unfortunately he was sin-binned during the play, which gave the Falcons the advantage they needed.

With less than two minutes remaining and an extra man on the field, the Falcons scored to go ahead 14-10.

They held on for four more plays of the ensuing kickoff to seal a memorable win in enemy territory.

A disappointing result for the Seagulls who would have been deserved winners if they had held on.

Up next for Wynnum Manly is Round 17 on Sunday 7 July against the Souths Logan Magpies at home. This is always a closely fought game, with the winning team receiving the coveted Mitch Cronin Cup.

This game is a 2:10pm kickoff, and will be broadcast on Kayo Freebies, 9Now and QPlus.tv for free.

 

BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls travelled to Redcliffe on Saturday afternoon to take on the Dolphins in Round.

Our recent form included a draw against the CQ Capras the weekend prior, and a tight win against Brisbane Tigers before that.

But our 3rd position on the ladder after 14 rounds, showed that we were certainly capable of competing with the best teams.

It was a slow start for the Gulls in the battle of the Bayside teams as Redcliffe opened the scoring in the 5th minute.

They went on to score three more tries and push out to a 20-0 lead after 28 minutes.

Wynnum Manly got back in the fight as the grind set in, but unfortunately couldn’t capitalise on good field position.

A penalty goal just before half time took us to the break down 20-2.

Two key players didn’t return to the field after halftime with injuries hampering our chance of a comeback.

Stanford Talita burst through the line to score for the Seagulls and bring the score to 20-8 in the 49th minute.

However, another two injuries early in the second half, and Brendan Frei on limited minutes in his return from an ACL injury, meant that the Seagulls played the final 27 minutes with 12 players on the field.

Despite this imposing challenge, the boys from Wynnum Manly showed courage to stay in the contest and did their best despite the circumstances.

Redcliffe ultimately closed out 38-8 winners as they took advantage of the extra man on the field.

The Seagulls are back at home this Saturday against the in-form Sunshine Coast Falcons. Kick off is 3pm at BMD Kougari Oval, and one lucky supporter will win a weekend away thanks to our Premier Partner, Moreton Island Adventures.

Match report presented by George Hartnett Metropolitan Funerals

BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls hosted the Central QLD Capras on Sunday, in front of a strong crowd that had built up during the day.

Earlier, Beenleigh played Wynnum Manly Juniors across three BRL games, after relocating their home games to BMD Kougari Oval.

On a day where we recognised McDonalds Bayside for their support of the Seagulls, and raised money for Ronald McDonalds House Charities SEQ, rugby league lovers kept flowing through the gates.

It was a great start for Wynnum Manly as the ball went through the hands and Stanford Talita crossed in the corner in the 2nd minute.

Talita was almost in again 4 minutes later, but as he was getting tackled over the sideline, he threw the ball back in field to Bryce Donovan to score the Seagulls second try.

The Seagulls hot start continued as Josh Stuckey got his nose through 20m out and offloaded to Kalolo Saitaua, who ducked and weaved to score under the posts.

14-0 Seagulls after 14 minutes.

Cory Paix then got on the scoresheet in the 21st minute, with his near-unstoppable burrow from dummy half close to the line.

The Seagulls led 20-0 before the Capras scored in the 27th and 38th minutes to bring the score to 20-10 at half time.

Wynnum Manly continued their recent run of quick second half starts, as Zac Hetherington poked through the line to offload to Paix, who kicked for Ollie Pascose to kick back to him, as Paix grabbed his second through next to the posts.

However, Dolphins NRL player Anthony Milford led the fightback for the CQ Capras as he scored in the 47th minute and was involved in their next two tries to put the Capras in front 28-26.

All of a sudden, Wynnum Manly were chasing the game after leading all the way.

A 69th minute penalty from Bryce Donovan tied the game and set up a thrilling last 10 minutes.

Anthony Milford missed a field goal, before Seagull Kurt Falls had his attempt charged down.

Bryce Donovan missed a field goal by a whisker, but was then on hand to chase 60m and dive on a loose ball to save the Seagulls from defeat – a true Captain’s play.

The full time siren sounded at 28-28, with both teams feeling like they should have won the game.

The Seagulls remain in 3rd place on the ladder and will aim to go one better on Saturday afternoon.

Next game:
Wynnum Manly are off to their traditional rival, the Redcliffe Dolphins, on Saturday 22nd of June at 5pm before returning home to face the Sunshine Coast Falcons on Saturday 29th of June.

Match report presented by George Hartnett Metropolitan Funerals

It was a close finish on Saturday as the Seagulls travelled to Totally Workwear Stadium to face the Tigers.

The game finished 18-16 to the Seagulls, but it was a tale of two halves, as the Seagulls dominated the first and the Tigers clawed their way back in the second. .

Wynnum Manly opened the scoring in the 5th minute through Stanford Talita.

Then Josh Stuckey had a double within 3 minutes, scoring in the 12th and 15th minutes to have the Seagulls up 18-0.

After a red hot start to the Seagulls, the Tigers were able to score in the 19th minute through Storm-contracted Kane Bradley.

The game then settled as momentum went back and forward, with no more added to the score by halftime. 18-6 Seagulls.

The Seagulls went down to 12 men early in the second half but held the Tigers at bay until the 63rd minute when Bradley went in again.

A 73rd minute try to the Tigers brought the score to 18-16 Seagulls, and set up an exciting finish.

Wynnum Manly held on in the final minutes as the Tigers threw the ball around in desperation and tried everything.

Final score 18-16 to the Seagulls. An important win away from home before returning to BMD Kougari Oval this weekend.

On Sunday, the Seagulls face the Capras at 3pm, with 3 BRL games played in the lead up, commencing from 9:45am.

See more info about this Sunday here: Facebook event

Match report presented by George Hartnett Metropolitan Funerals

It was a great afternoon for football on Sunday, as the Burleigh Bears made the trip to BMD Kougari Oval for the feature match of Round 12.

Burleigh sat equal 2nd, while the Seagulls were in 1st place after 4 wins in a row.

A strong crowd rolled through the gates expecting to see high quality football.

Unfortunately for the home fans, it was Burleigh who started the better of the two teams, opening the scoring in the 2nd minute.

Their hot start continued, as the Bears went over again in the 8th and 12th minutes. Bears 14-0 after 13 minutes.

Wynnum Manly got into the arm wrestle and pegged back some momentum as Cory Paix burrowed over from close range to open the Seagulls account.

Paix was unlucky not to have another try, as he was called short of the line with a similar burrowing effort just before halftime.

Halftime score 14-6 to Burleigh.

The Seagulls continued their recent run of early second half tryscoring, as Jon Reuben scored in the 42nd minute to put his team firmly in the game.

The game tightened up before Burleigh managed to score again in the 53rd and 64th minutes to lead 24-10.

Justin Frain crossed over out wide to make it 24-14 with 6 minutes remaining.

A late try to the Bears sealed their win 28-14, as the Seagulls look to get back in the winner’s circle in Round 13.

On Saturday 8 June, Wynnum Manly travel to Totally Workwear Stadium to take on the Brisbane Tigers at 3pm.

This is our closest geographical rival, and we’re looking forward to seeing the travelling Seagulls support.