Our Hostplus Cup and Hastings Deering Colts travelled to Maryborough last weekend to take on the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

This was the first of two Indigenous recognition matches hosted by the Seagulls, with the second being at North Stradbroke Island next weekend.

In partnership with Deadly Choices, Galangoor Duwalami Healthcare, Fraser Coast Regional Council and Rugby League Fraser Coast, this was the 3rd year the Seagulls have held events in the Fraser Coast region.

The Hastings Deering Colts kicked off first in front of a building crowd, but unfortunately went down 25-18.

Before the Hostplus Cup game, spectators were treated to a Welcome to Country by Aunty Karen Hall, who also designed the Seagulls jersey for this game, as well as speeches from Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour, Galangoor Duwalami Chairman Graham Douglas and Seagulls CEO Wayne Weekes.

Then a traditional Indigenous dance followed, before the players ran through a tunnel formed by the dancers.

The Hostplus Cup started with a brilliant long-range chase and tackle from Josh Simm, who stopped a certain try.

A few minutes later however, the Falcons scored in the corner, resulting in Gideon Gela Mosby leaving the field with a failed HIA.

After a backline reshuffle for the Seagulls, the Falcons scored again to lead 12-0.

Jock Madden and Josh Rogers then teamed up to grab the Seagulls opener, before Madden had a hand in the Seagulls second try out wide to Josh Simm.

Half time score was 12-10 to the Falcons.

Simm was over again straight after half time, with Madden throwing a long cut out ball to put his winger into space out wide.

The Seagulls extended their lead when hooker Ollie Pascoe barged through three defenders and slammed the ball down from close range.

The momentum then swung back to the Falcons as they scored two tries in 5 minutes to tie the game at 22-22.

Madden was at it again when he put a kick through for Delouise Hoeter to regather and score under the posts in the 68th minute.

The Falcons weren’t giving up though, as they broke through from 40m out to score and tie the game again at 28-28.

Wynnum Manly worked their way into field goal territory, but a Jock Madden effort was blocked by an offside defender.

The resulting penalty on the siren saw Josh Rogers line up a kick from in front to seal the game.

Rogers made no mistake and locked in the 2 points for the Seagulls as they got home in a thriller 30-28.

Madden and Rogers were standouts yet again, with Caius Faatili earning Bartons Player of the Match after running for 221m in 37 minutes.

Up next, the Seagulls return home to BMD Kougari Oval to face the Burleigh Bears in a 2nd vs 3rd clash.

 

BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls made the trip to Cairns to take on the Northern Pride after a bye week in the Hostplus Cup competition.

It was a meeting of two in-form teams, with the Pride making their way up the ladder in recent weeks and the Seagulls on a 6 win streak.

Earlier on Saturday, our Hastings Deering Colts hosted Norths Devils at BMD Kougari Oval.

The Seagulls scored 13 tries and converted 11 of them for an impressive 74-24 win. They now sit equal first with the Colts competition taking a two week break.

Up in Cairns, it was the Seagulls who started the better of the two teams thanks to their new Broncos-affiliated recruits.

Jock Madden dummied and slipped through a gap to open the scoring, before Xavier Willison barged his way through three defenders to score next to the posts.

Madden scored again in the 34th minute with a step off his right foot, showing he is thriving in the Seagulls jersey.

Deine Mariner iced a good first half using his impressive footwork to score in the 37th minute.

Seagulls led 24-4 at half time.

The Pride hit back with 2 tries early in the first half to come within 10 points of the Seagulls.

However Kalolo Saitaua sealed the game with a try in the 76th minute.

Josh Rogers was again perfect with the boot as he converted all 5 tries.

Final score 30-14 to the Seagulls.

7 wins on the trot for the Seagulls as we head off to Country Week in Wondai against Norths Devils.

The BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls are proud to share the story behind the Indigenous jersey that we wore on Saturday 18 June in Hervey Bay.

The jersey was revealed at a morning tea the day before the game at the Galangoor Duwalami Primary Healthcare centre.

Local Indigenous Elders, Deadly Choices staff and ambassadors, and Seagulls staff were present to share in the excitement of the Seagulls trip to Hervey Bay.

Aunty Karen Hall spoke first about the jersey that she designed so lovingly.

The eagles on the jersey represent the coming together of many people as one, signifying the eagle as a symbol that we all look upto in the sky.

The red footsteps represent the people that have travelled across country, and up and down the football field.

The red and green colours on the jersey emulate those of the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags are located on each shoulder, with Deadly Choices front and centre on the jersey to represent their significant contribution to the organisation of this Indigenous recognition match.

The Seagulls then attended a team dinner, hosted by Galangoor Duwalami at the Hervey Bay Boat Club, where Aunty Karen Hall spoke to the players about the design of the jersey and what this match means for the local Indigenous community.

The Seagulls staff and players are incredibly excited to be involved in a match such as this, and wore this Indigenous jersey with immense pride.

As a cherry on top of an already successful weekend, the Seagulls won both their Hastings Deering Colts and Hostplus Cup matches.

Article written by NRLW Chief Reporter Alicia Newton. 

The Queensland Rubys are the under 19s national champions after beating NSW City 10-4 in the Harvey Norman National Championships final on Sunday.

In a tense contest, the Rubys led 6-0 at half-time courtesy of a try through five-eighth Ellie Williamson before the Queenslanders defended their way to victory against a fast-finishing NSW City side at Pizzey Park.

After three days of gruelling rugby league, the Rubys repelled three City raids in the second half which included a try-saving intercept from winger Helen Uitualagi.

Williamson finished as the Tahnee Norris medal winner for player of the tournament and is all but certain to represent Queensland in the under 19s State of Origin clash on June 23.

“It’s just been a great week spending time with all the girls and learning about each other and bonding,” Williamson told NRL.com.

“To be able to play Origin would be amazing, I hope I can make it. It would be an exciting opportunity.

“Hopefully I can play in it and then aim for an NRLW contract in the near future.

“That’s what I like about this tournament, to watch all the girls be able to show what they can do.”

Earlier, play was stopped for almost a half an hour due to a serious ankle injury to NSW City interchange player Sienna Williams, who was taken from the ground via ambulance.

A try to Williamson in the first half set up a six-point lead before a 20-metre cut-out pass from Chantay Ratu sent Tahlia Marshall over late to seal the result.

NSW City hit back through Rueben Cherrington with seconds left on the clock but the Rubys held their nerve with a last-second defensive play handing them the win.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls players in the Queensland Rubys team included Ellie Williamson (Player of the Tournament), Emma Barnes, Helen Uitualagi, Felila Kia, as well as injured squad members Jacinta Carter and Jayde Herdegen (all pictured above).

The U19 State of Origin team will be named shortly with our Seagulls girls in the Queensland Rubys team in a great position to be selected.

This Saturday will see the BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls take on the Ipswich Jets across multiple grades at Capalaba Warriors rugby league club.

The Harvey Norman Women’s U19’s, Mal Meninga Cup U18’s and Cyril Connell Challenge U16’s will all be backing up from winning performances last weekend against Norths.

Seagulls coaches will look to use the trials against Ipswich Jets to cement their teams as the start of the season edges closer.

The U19 Women’s team had a good win last week with notable performances from Eliza Lopamaua and Felila Kia in the forward pack. Sienna Lofipo was very important in the halves, while the centre pairing of Helen Uitualagi and Destiny Mino defended outstandingly and ran the ball effectively.

The U18’s were directed by a strong showing from halves pairing, Cooper Hersom and Callum Pereira. Other standout performances included Haizyn Mellars on the wing and Cameron Bukowski at dummy half, as well as new recruits Brock Hinds from Yepoon and Cayleb Johnstone from Bundaberg.

The U16’s team will be lead by Coby Black in the halves, who’ll be full of confidence after 3 tries and an assist in last week’s game. The forward pack has been strong in both trials, with special mentions to Jett Bryce and Frankie Goldsbrough providing real impact on the edges.

In the middle, Cooper Day, Chaev Kolone and Kincade Carson will all be players to watch as they look to lay the platform for the team to play off.

U16’s Coach, Mick Reimer is also looking forward to seeing Sylas Simon with some extended game time at fullback. ‘Hopefully we’ll see him with some ball in hand and space. Sylas is lightning quick, his touch background gives him an exciting passing and running game.’

The times for this weekend’s trial matches at Capalaba are below:

HNU19’s – 11:30am

CC16’s – 12:45pm

MM18’s – 2:00pm

Saturday saw the BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls launch their 2022 season with the reveal of their new logo and playing strip.

The Hostplus Cup squad kickstarted 2022 with a trial match against the Brisbane Broncos. Whilst the scoreline did not go our way, there were plenty of valuable lessons to be learnt from the encounter.

Produced by EV2, the Seagulls donned both home (green) and away (black) jerseys in the trial, wearing a playing kit that was praised by supporters.

The striking BMD logo remains front and centre in a partnership that is incredibly appreciated by the Seagulls.

Greatly valued long-term partners Lipke Motors, Job Connect Recruitment and SQS Haulage remain on the 2022 jersey. While exciting new partnerships with Place Estate Agents and Moreton Island Adventures have started, with both featuring on this season’s jersey.

The Seagulls logo has also had an update, with the 2022 version more streamlined than previous years.

Pre-order your Seagulls 2022 jersey here: Jersey Pre-Order Form

As a club, we are incredibly excited for the season to start. With our inaugural QRL women’s team taking the field, as well as our Cup and Colts teams coming off grand final appearances, the Seagulls are raring to go in season 2022! With a new logo, new jersey, and plenty of new signings on the field, Wynnum Manly remain in a great position for continued success.

Last week, the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Wynnum Manly Juniors and Wynnum Manly Leagues Club released a joint statement regarding the future of rugby league in the community, and a proposed relocation of the senior and junior clubs, to accommodate growth.

On the back of that statement, Wynnum Manly Seagulls CEO Hanan Laban did a Q&A-style interview with News Corp publications, which you can read by clicking the link here:

https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/wynnum-manly-seagulls-ceo-hanan-laban-addresses-concerns-over-new-stadium-plans/news-story/b21cbf3f76143132ecb6e48ed5b67d10

In response, members and fans from all three clubs have asked for more information about the proposal.

While the concept is in its early stages and information is still being gathered, Laban has answered the following questions to clarify the proposal, and to inform members and fans.

 

How do you respond to claims the Wynnum Manly Juniors are being ‘kicked out’ of Kitchener Park, or claims Wynnum Manly Seagulls are being forced out of Kougari Oval?

First of all, let me again reassure everyone that no one is being ‘kicked out’. Not the Seagulls Seniors or Juniors.

The Juniors need to move to a bigger venue because they are at capacity at Kitchener Park.

The fact of the matter is, and it is a good problem to have, the Juniors have more kids wanting to play rugby league than they can currently accommodate.

The Juniors have over 750 registered players across 47 teams. I was just speaking to Junior committee members last week and they were saying it was a monumental task to fit their 47 teams in across two fields. I asked them what would they do if more kids signed up? They weren’t sure how they would accommodate them.

With a bigger venue, the Juniors believe they can get participation numbers to 1200 because of the influx of families to the area.

So you can’t blame the Juniors for wanting a bigger home, because they are trying to give a game to every kid that wants to play.

What is a little difficult to understand is why some people who are criticising this idea from the Juniors want to deny 400 kids the same opportunity they themselves were given when they were kids – and that is the chance to play rugby league for Wynnum Manly.

Once it was known the Juniors need to move to accommodate more kids and families, the idea of moving the Seniors to Kitchener Park was floated because the Seagulls have similarly outgrown the facilities at Kougari Oval.

 

The Seagulls have set up a sub-committee to investigate the proposal, which includes moving the Juniors to a bigger venue, and the Seniors moving to a new purpose-built stadium at Kitchener Park. Who is on this sub-committee? Do they have a conflict of interest? What is the timeline for this proposal to eventuate?

The sub-committee consists of the Chairman of the Wynnum Manly Seagulls Football Club, Tom Solah, and Director Karl Dekroo, the President of Wynnum Juniors, Adam Lipke and myself.

We are investigating bringing more people onto the sub-committee as the project progresses.

But it is worth reinforcing that Adam is on the sub-committee to ensure the best result for the Juniors is attained here. The Juniors have been involved in this process, and their needs have been at the forefront, every step of the way.

There is no conflict of interest. If any of those involved had a conflict, in accordance with proper governance, they would have been ineligible to be a part of the sub-committee.

There is no timeline because, as stated previously, the concept is in the information gathering and feasibility stages.

The sub-committee is not being asked to design or construct the facility. They are being asked to investigate a proposal in the best interests of the club.

 

The Seagulls have stated Kougari Oval will remain a training facility and the ground will remain as it is. But will the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club state for the record there are no plans to develop Kougari Oval for their own purposes?

In the joint statement issued by the Juniors, Seniors and Leagues Club last Tuesday, Wynnum Manly Leagues Club Chairman Mr Peter Smith literally said exactly that – that the current Board of Directors and Management have had no discussions and have no plans to develop Kougari Oval.

We have heard all the rumours about the future of Kougari, some of which have bordered on the ridiculous.

The fact of the matter is, Kougari will remain a rugby league field, and remain a part of the Wynnum Manly Football club, used by the Seagulls as a training base and venue for select home games each season.

 

Why do the Wynnum Manly Seagulls need a stadium at Kitchener Park?

Rugby league is booming on the Bayside.

Wynnum Juniors have over 750 kids and need space to grow so they can allow more boys and girls to play.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls need better facilities for fans, families and the players in our male and female programs, or risk losing our place in the competition.

The Queensland Rugby League regularly undertake audits of all competition facilities and our current facilities at Kougari Oval are at risk of falling below the standard required to participate in the Hostplus Cup.

If we do not meet the competition’s criteria on the facilities we provide to players and spectators, we potentially could lose our place in the Queensland Cup.

Most of the clubs in the competition are moving into stadium facilities, in line with the standard of the competition.

What we want for Wynnum Manly is the same thing that Redcliffe and Brisbane Easts and Sunshine Coast and other teams have given their players and fans – a venue to be proud of, that is an enjoyable venue to play and watch rugby league.

Currently, Kougari Oval’s capacity is 5,000 people, which we reach for games like the Broncos pre-season trial, and semi-final matches.

We need room to grow, and better facilities to encourage more people to come to the game.

How many women don’t attend games now because they must walk so far from the Chook Pen to get to a toilet? It’s not acceptable in this day and age.

A better facility encourages more attendance and engagement because it is a place that people want to be.

Unfortunately, because of a range of factors with Kougari Oval, we can’t develop where we are, or make it bigger. We can’t accommodate the six elite-level teams that want to play and train there.

So we have to find a solution. If we stay still, we will be left behind.

In the past 30 years, we have seen traditional clubs like Valleys, Brothers and Wests go under or exit the competition because they could not keep up with the criteria required to compete in the Queensland Cup.

Without better facilities able to accommodate the demands of the modern game, we risk going the same way.

In an ideal world, we would do all these developments at Kougari, and stay there.

But it can’t be done in the space we currently have in the middle of a residential neighbourhood.

 

What about people who say that moving away from Kougari Oval is being disrespectful to the club’s history?

The proposed move to Kitchener Park is actually embracing Wynnum Manly’s history, and the people who were part of it.

Kitchener Park was Wynnum Manly’s home ground from when they joined the Brisbane Rugby League competition in 1951, up until the Seagulls moved to Kougari Oval in 1967.

One of our greatest ever players, Lionel Morgan, played 106 games for Wynnum Manly over 10 seasons, from 1959 to 1968.

For eight of the 10 years Lionel played at the Seagulls, Kitchener Park was his home ground.

Kitchener Park is Wynnum Manly’s first home, and a huge part of our club’s history, just like Kougari Oval.

 

Why is this proposal good for the community, and not just good for the football club?

The proposed concept is not about being glamourous, or superficial. It is about what is best for the local community – in particular the children and families who want to be involved in rugby league.

Without a new venue for the Juniors, they face having to tell 400 kids to go elsewhere, or to play another sport.

A new venue for the Juniors is the only way for rugby league participation in the area to grow because Kitchener Park simply cannot fit any more in.

The proposed stadium for Kitchener Park is not just for our Queensland Cup team. We have six elite-level teams playing for the club now, including two women’s teams.

Our current facilities are not suitable for hosting those teams, and some of them have to train at Capalaba because of restrictions on space and usage.

What we envision is creating an asset for the local community – one that will create jobs in the short and long-term, during the construction phase and onwards with the establishment of new community facilities, such as the idea of a new medical precinct.

It is going to be good for local, family-owned small businesses, with the proposed new facility closer to the train station and the Wynnum CBD, encouraging game-day visitors to spend time and money in the community.

The venue would be available for other clubs to use, but also for local schools who are looking for a bigger facility to host their major games and events.

There is the opportunity to create a facility capable of hosting events outside of sport, encouraging more arts and entertainment exhibitions to the local area.

And, as mentioned previously, it gives Wynnum a chance to be a part of the 2032 Olympic games, by providing a rectangular stadium where rugby sevens and soccer teams can create a training base and play warm-up matches in the lead-up to the Games.

 

BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls

The Wynnum Manly Seagulls men’s and women’s teams have flown through the month of January. Their training schedules have consisted of multiple pre-season sessions and a training camp for each squad to prepare for the season ahead.

As the Gulls look forward to February, trial matches will take place across all grades, with the main drawcard being our HostPlus Cup team taking on the Brisbane Broncos on Saturday February 12 at BMD Kougari Oval. The Wynnum Manly community are eagerly anticipating this match as several former Seagulls players will be on show for the Broncos, having transitioned through the club and into the NRL.

A big crowd is expected, and tickets are selling fast. This will be a match to remember for a long time to come.

We are looking forward to seeing BMD Kougari Oval packed with fans to kickstart the 2022 season! Tickets are available through Local Tickets at the link below.

Tickets available here

 

Key Times:

10.30am Gates Open

11.15am Harvey Norman Women’s U19s – Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Norths Devils

12.50pm Cyril Connell Challenge U16s – Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Norths Devils

2.15pm Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup U18s – Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Norths Devils

4.00pm NRL Trial Match – Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Brisbane Broncos  

 

The Seagulls HostPlus Cup and QRL Women’s squads have been training well as they build into the 2022 season.

Continue reading “Seagulls Pre-Season Training Building Nicely” →

Seagulls Media

On Friday September 17, the Club celebrated 70 years of history at our annual Sportsman’s Luncheon. Hosted by Chris Bombolas, the event was an opportunity to hear from two panels of club legends; Seagulls who represented Queensland at State of Origin and club Icons from the across the decades.

Guest speakers from the first panel included Gene Miles, Paul Green, Chris McKenna and Craig Greenhill. Rugby League Journalist Steve Ricketts dove deep into the archives to encourage these Origin stars to recount their journey in footy. Some infamous moments were discussed, alongside some lesser known stories, giving attendees an intimate understanding of what it meant to play rugby league for Queensland.

Later in the afternoon, guests in attendance were treated to more special memories from some of the most popular and famous names in Wynnum Manly rugby league history. Luke Dalziel-Don, Graham Curtis, Ken Churchill and Earl Morgan were also joined on stage by Ned Green.

A captive audience heard these legends share how proud they were to represent the local community and run out for the Seagulls every week.

In addition to learning about club culture, international tours and what it means to play for the Gulls, the event also raised important funds for the Seagulls Foundation. The Foundation directly supports the development and welfare of local athletes and provides invaluable resources to the club on and off the field. Players from the Seagulls Academy program were in attendance at the luncheon to greet guests and pass on their thanks for the additional support.

A host of auction items and raffle prizes were given away on the day, including a travel adventure to the Whitsundays, Broncos Inner Sanctum experiences and rare sporting memorabilia. Every guest and partner who contributed to the fundraising on the day has made a meaningful contribution to the ongoing development of the club.

The club would also like to make a special thank you to the guests in the room who participated in a captivating live auction and contributed significant funds to the Foundation, including Barton’s Motor Group, TFH Hire Services, Lipke Motors and a few of our club legends.