The BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls hosted the Papua New Guinea Hunters at BMD Kougari Oval on Saturday.

A lively crowd turned out to watch the match on a picturesque afternoon in Wynnum.

The Hunters started the better of the two sides with Kitron Laka opening the scoring in the 11th minute.

The men from PNG were full of energy after training with the QLD Maroons during the week and their intensity was showing against the Seagulls.

Dredin Sorensen managed to get one back for the Seagulls on the right wing.

Former Hunter, Epel Kapinias, was targeted as he ran the ball, with big shots coming from Sylvester Namo and Dilbert Isaac.

The Hunters scored twice more before the break, leading 18-4 as the teams headed for the sheds.

The Hunters momentum continued after half time with Ila Alu and Solo Wane scoring in the first 5 minutes to push PNG to a 30-4 lead.

The game steadied, and finally the Seagulls gained some momentum in front of a crowd that had been waiting almost an hour for them to turn it on.

Harrison Graham scored in the 53rd minute, and then following a sin bin to Junior Rop, the Seagulls scored twice more through Falakiko Manu and then Graham again from dummy half.

The crowd was now on its feet as the scored came to 30-22 with 17 minutes to play and the Seagulls on fire.

However, multiple attacks on the Hunters tryline were repelled or resulted in handling errors and the Seagulls couldn’t produce points from their momentum.

In the 76th minute, the Seagulls bombed a certain try through a knock on, only for Solo Wane to scoop up the ball and run 90m to score under the posts.

This sealed the game 36-22 for the Hunters, and both the players and many PNG fans in the crowd celebrated deservedly.

The Seagulls rue another missed chance to jump to 2nd on the ladder and now head north to Innisfail to take on the Northern Pride this Saturday at 5.30pm.

The Seagulls Academy Hastings Deering Colts continued their winning ways with a 64-0 nil demolition of the Western Clydesdales.

This is now 9 wins in a row for the Seagulls Colts and see them sit on top of the ladder.

11 tries were scored in total, with Jack Bowyer converting 10 from 11.

Cassius Cowley was named McDonalds Player of the Match for the Seagulls for his hand in many of these 11 tries.

The BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls travelled to Bishop Park on Sunday for Round 13 of the Hostplus Cup.

This was the first time the Seagulls had faced Norths Devils since the 2021 grand final, where the Devils got home in a close game.

The recent rain resulted in a field that was soft under foot through the middle, and muddy around the edges.

The two Broncos affiliates ran onto Bishop Park and stood shoulder to shoulder to commemorate BMD Indigenous Round in Round 13.

With 5 Broncos turning out for Norths and 3 for the Seagulls, the Nundah crowd were looking forward to this clash with plenty of talent on display.

An early try to Max Plath put the visitors on the front foot as they sliced through the Devils defence at their first attempt.

Max Elliot then bulldozed his way over from dummy half in the 13th minute to extend the Seagulls lead. Max Plath converted to make the score 10-0.

The Seagulls were in again 5 minutes later when Tristan Hope snuck over from dummy half too. Another Plath conversion saw the score at 16-0 after 20 minutes.

The game mellowed after the opening 20 minutes with both sides repelling opposition attacks.

Norths squandered 3 potential tries due to forward passes on their right edge as they couldn’t capitalize on the overlaps they had created.

The Seagulls went in again just before the break as Deine Mariner scooped up a grubber kick with one hand and beat the full back to score under the posts.

Tyson Gamble was sent to the sin bin as a result and the Gulls were firmly on top.

The Seagulls went to the break leading 22-0.

Normal programming resumed after half time with Bailey Hartwig scoring in the 49th minute.

Liam Horne and Brayden McGrady both scored for the Devils in quick succession to bring the score back to 26-10 with 17 minutes left.

Brayden McGrady scored again in the 75th minute to give the Devils a glimmer of hope.

However, a late penalty to the Seagulls saw Hartwig convert in front of the posts to seal a 28-14 win.

The Seagulls next face the PNG Hunters at BMD Kougari Oval on Saturday 9 July as they look to continue their recent momentum.

The Wynnum Manly Seagulls relocated their Round 12 Hostplus Cup match to Ralph Stafford Park, Hervey Bay in an Indigenous recognition match. The Fraser Coast Regional Council, Deadly Choices and Galangoor Duwalami Primary Healthcare all contributed significantly to the organisation of this match and helped to encourage a large crowd to attend.

Continue reading “Seagulls grind out tough win against Falcons in Hervey Bay” →

QRL article written by Michael Nunn

Wynnum Manly Seagulls didn’t have to travel too far to take part in their away game against the Brisbane Tigers in Round 11, with the match played at their home ground of BMD Kougari Oval.

The Wynnum Manly forwards in particular gave the Seagulls great ball movement and they made themselves at home deep in the Tigers territory. After a great run from Zac Hoskings, who bumped his way down the middle of the field, the Seagulls went left, attacking with width and precision.

Max Plath and Sam Scarlett gave their outside men space and this forced the Tigers to make decisions and when Falakiko Manu flicked it out for Sione Hopoate; Hopoate wiped his feet on the welcome mat and scored in the corner.

The next Wynnum Seagulls try would feature in a manual of how to score a good tryl with two great runs from Max Elliott and Luke Bateman giving their side time, space and eventually a try to Ben Farr flying through the middle in support.

The Seagulls were up 10-0 after 14 minutes.

The masterclass in forward play continued with Tristan Hope giving that width to Bateman who found space and scored next to the posts to record an astonishing fifth try this year in 10 games for Wynnum.

It was a perfect start at 16-0 for Wynnum Manly who were playing fast and direct and attacking with options everywhere.

The next Wynnum Manly try showcased speed not power or passing. Tigers youngster Jonah Pezet was on debut for the Tigers and put a kick up that was grabbed by Delouise Hoeter. Looming on his inside was David Mead who then had to run 70 metres to give the Seagulls all the running at 20-0.

At halftime, the Seagulls had only missed four tackles compared to the 18 from the Tigers and this resulted in four-line breaks as the Tigers kept putting themselves under pressure.

The BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls hosted the Central Queensland Capras in their match on North Stradbroke Island / Minjerribah, proudly supported by Deadly Choices, Redland City Council and Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation.

Continue reading “Seagulls vs Capras Match Report” →

Words and photos by Jim O’Reilly

“We should play in the wet every weekend!” a spectator yelled from The Chook Pen after Wynnum Manly Seagulls ran over the top of the Ipswich Jets at BMD Kougari Oval in Round 8 of the Hostplus Cup.

It seemed the atrocious conditions helped the Seagulls focus on fundamental, mistake-free football, completing sets and maintaining good field position.

To be fair, the Jets played better then the score suggests with some solid hit-ups and defence and a well-deserved try to Ratu Rotavisoro after some good build up work toward the 30-minute mark.

But the Seagulls came out ready for business.

The forwards with Brisbane Broncos TC Robati and Jake Turpin did all the work in gaining metres up the middle and standout work by Luke Bateman, Matiu Love-Henry and Zac Hosking kept turning the Jets around.

However, it was interchange forward Kalolo Saitaua who was arguably the best forward on ground scoring three tries in a bone-crunching display.  He scored in the 34th, 60th and 66th minutes and was a superb in defence too.

Saitaua is having a standout year and when spoken to a couple of weeks ago about what he thinks is making the difference, he shared missing most of last year with injury, has just made him hungrier to repay the club for their support.

Sam Scarlett continues to lead from the front as club captain and his kicking game was on point today as he marshalled his troops around the field; his hard work rewarded with his own try in the 22nd minute.

What was most notable with this Seagulls performance compared to earlier rounds was how the side got around and supported each other on the field…. running in from everywhere to congratulate big tackles, opposition spilt ball, and of course tries.

The icing on the cake tries came in the 71st and 77th minute to returning players Tristan Hope and Max Elliott, who joined the side from playing BRL last week.

The song was sung loud and proud in the sheds after the game and this win is a much needed morale boost for the boys.

Wynnum Manly head to Mackay to face the Cutters in Round 9 on Friday 20 May.

Not even two tries from hard working Luke Bateman could get the win for Wynnum Manly Seagulls over Souths Logan Magpies in their ANZAC Round match at BMD Kougari Oval.

The Magpies were flat for the first 30 minutes of the game, primarily from the shock at Bateman charging over for a try next to the posts in only the second minute of the game. Ben Farr converted and before the fans in the leagues club had emerged with their first drinks, the Seagulls were up 6-0.

There was hard charging from Bateman, Epel Kapinias and Kalolo Saitaua during the first 30 minutes which gave the Seagulls excellent field position, culminating in a great second try to Bateman in the 31st minute. Farr converted and it looked like Wynnum would go the dressing rooms at half-time 12-0 up.

However, Souths Logan had different plans and with a minute and a half left on the clock, debutant Tristan Sailor, with dad Wendell Sailor – a former Brisbane Broncos star who made the trip up from Sydney with his wife – crashed over for a sensational try out wide.  Harradyn Wilson missed the conversion, and the score sat at 12-4 at half-time.

Continue reading “Seagulls go down fighting against Souths” →

The BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls faced the Redcliffe Dolphins in XXXX Rivalry on Sunday.

Both teams were at one win and two losses so far this season, and the focus was evident as the players arrived for the 2:10pm kickoff.

Redcliffe have always proved a tough match-up and have been the Seagulls’ opponent in some classic matches witnessed in both Bayside areas.

With the Dolphins feeding into the NZ Warriors in 2022, plenty of NRL talent was on display for the crowd at BMD Kougari Oval.

Before the match began on Seagulls Old Boys Day, a moments silence was taken to remember the Old Boys and officials of rugby league that have gone before us.

The first 15 minutes of the game were fairly uneventful, with both teams vying for field position but neither stamping their authority.

On 18 minutes, Epel Kapinias received a short ball from Luke Bateman and crashed over under the posts to score on his debut for the club.

The big man from Rabaul, Papua New Guniea, was swarmed by his teammates as they showed their appreciation for his efforts.

Kalolo Saitaua scored next as he broke through the line and threw the ball into the crowd. Saitaua has been in great form off the bench to start the season and deserved a try on the day.

The momentum continued to flow in the direction of the Seagulls, and a Matt Lyons double either side of half time put the game almost out of reach for the Dolphins.

Half time score: 18-4 Seagulls.

Lyons was back in the action 7 minutes later as he took a hit-up from his own in-goal area, broke three tackles and ran 60m, before passing to Te Maire Martin in support who scored under the posts in front of a rapturous Chook Pen.

The Dolphins scored a late consolation try through Warriors-contracted Eliesa Katoa to bring the score to 36-14

The Seagulls piled on more pain for the Dolphins in the final 10 minutes as Luke Bateman and Epel Kapinias both scored under the posts to ice an already impressive scoreline.

The Seagulls 1982 and 2012 premiership teams watched on from the Chook Pen and around the ground, and were in a celebratory mood after their reunion luncheon on Friday.

Lyons, in his first Hostplus Cup game of the season, played out of his skin to earn Player’s Player on the day.

Fans also witnessed impressive performances from Harrison Graham, who received the Hastings Deering Man of the Match, Epel Kapinias, Luke Bateman and Kalolo Saitaua.

The ‘Battle of the Bay’ was another big day at BMD Kougari Oval, and the Seagulls went home happy with the two points.

The two sides will face each other again on Saturday 6 August at Redcliffe.

Wynnum Manly’s next match is in two weeks against Souths Logan Magpies on Sunday 24 April.

The Seagulls would like to thank BMD for hosting our Round 4 match at BMD Kougari Oval.