Category: WMS News

Seagulls Field Blockbuster Legends Team

BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls legends will run out for their annual match this coming Sunday 25th August at 2:10pm.

Taking on the Easts Tigers legends team, the Seagulls have named a lineup of superstars looking to retain the BMD-Bartons Cup.

An exciting tradition on the second annual Paul Green Medal Day, the legends match brings former greats of both clubs out of retirement in tribute to another Bayside legend, Paul Green.

Greeny played at Easts, and then coached the Seagulls to back-to-back premierships in 2011 and 2012.

This game is an opportunity for the Old Boys to express their love for Greeny, and put on a show for the adoring Chook Pen.

Some players may still be physically hurting from last year’s corresponding game, but they wouldn’t miss this one.

Seagulls legends captain Luke Dalziel-Don is awarded the BMD-Bartons Cup in 2023.

Players such as Seagulls leading points scorer Mat Seamark, former QLD Cup coach Adam Brideson, and former club CEO Hanan Laban, will run out in Seagulls retro jerseys, which are on sale now and will continue to be sold on the day.

Following the legends match, the final round of the Hostplus Cup will kick off at 3:10pm, broadcast for free on Kayo Freebies, 9Now, QPlus.tv and Facebook livestream. The player of the match will be awarded the Paul Green Medal.

BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls legends team list:
1 Shea Moylan
2 Peter Gubb
3 Damian Quinn
4 Chris Currie
5 Daniel Ogden
6 Jon jon TeReo
7 Mat Seamark
8 Craig Greenhill
9 Wade Bachmann
10 Chris Muckert
11 Adam Brideson
12 Darren Bain
13 Luke Dalziel-Don
14 Ben Czislowski
15 Mitchell Dodds
16 Brad Nairn
17 Tanu Wulf
18 Hanan Laban
19 Tony Gollan
20 Will Scanlan
21 Gus Martin
22 Clayton Maher
23 Denny Lambert
24 Mark Lane

Staff:
Head Coach – Ben Ikin
Assistant – Jed Green
Assistant – Andrew Gee
Manager – Kerry Crosbie
Asst Manager – Andrew Clayton
Head of Performance – Tony Wood
Performance & Rehab – Brendan Turnbull
Head of Hydration – Danny Grimley
Hydration Assistant – Ian Turner
Hype Manager – Shane Yeo
Trainers – Kevin Crease / Graeme Kirk

Jersey Presenters:
Steve Plath
Steve Malt
Paul Lineburg

Bryce Donovan Hits 100 Hostplus Cup Games

QRL article by Jorja Brinums

For Bryce Donovan, there is a very long list of people who have helped him get to and stay where he is in the rugby league universe, playing his 100th Hostplus Cup game.

Among those at the top of the list is his mum Kelly Donovan, wife Jess Donovan and daughter Willow Donovan – fitting, given it’s Harvey Norman Women in League Round.

The crafty playmaker will lace up his boots for his 100th Cup game when Wynnum Manly Seagulls take on Central Queensland Capras in Rockhampton on Saturday.

“It’s definitely something I’m proud of,” Donovan said.

“To play 100 Cup games… it probably wasn’t a goal to play 100 Cup games… the goal was always NRL and it would take as many Cup games as it did until that was ticked off.

“I’m still always chasing it. If you asked me, I wouldn’t have said 100 Cup games was a goal because I was probably a bit arrogant, thinking I’d be doing something else by now, but I wouldn’t change it for the world… it has been really fun.

“Without playing that next level, it just shows that I have been able to play some pretty consistent footy for a number of years now. To get to 100 games, I don’t think it’s a fluke… I’m obviously doing something right, so it’s something I’m definitely proud of.”

The 29-year-old made his Cup debut for the Redcliffe Dolphins in 2018, and won the competition that year. He has played 54 games for the Dolphins, 29 for Norths Devils and 16 for Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

Donovan played for the Dolphins in 2018-19, Devils in 2020-22, Dolphins again in 2022, Devils in 2023 and Wynnum Manly in 2024.

“I debuted in 2018 at Redcliffe and as we all know, I have hopped around over the years, and probably would’ve had my 100 a bit earlier because I’ve probably lost a full season through injuries,” Donovan said.

“Had a pretty cool debut year… tore my pec leading into Round 1, came back halfway through the year then we won the comp… it was a long time ago but I’m still hanging onto it.

“I was at Norths in 2021… I lost half a season there with my ACL and the team was pretty much rolling when I came back so I didn’t play in the grand final.

“My highlight playing Cup would definitely be 2018, winning the grand final in 2018.

“Other than that, one of my funnest years was 2022… I went back to Redcliffe I think in Round 3 and we didn’t start off good. I think we lost our first four in a row, but then just went on a really big winning streak… didn’t lose for about 13 or 14 weeks there, which is a club record.

“I got to go back and play with some old mates and make some new ones that will last a lifetime, so 2022 is right up there as well.”

Donovan looking for an opportunity from the play the ball.

Donovan said while it was a milestone for him, he owed it to a “long list of people”.

“Footy is the only thing I’ve known since I was probably four or five… you get around a special group of people and they’re you’re family away from family… with them four to five times a week, travel with them, they become your family… it’s just fun as you get older,” Donovan said.

“Without carrying on too much, I just want to say I am grateful for the support of both mum and dad my whole career…they did everything for me growing up, with footy… took me to all of the trainings and games, all the weekends away… without them, this would be hard.

“There’s obviously Trai Fuller, Cameron Cullen, Sheldon Pitama and Nathan Watts from Reddy and also my big, tall, friendly giant friend Jarrett Boland.

“Then Norths, obviously playing with Jack Ahearn was pretty cool… we had some fun, Moses Noovao-McGreal, he is still one of my best friends even though he’s at Brisbane Tigers, and I’ve got Connor Broadhurst and Brendan Frei who I played with at Norths, who are playing with me at Wynnum Manly now.

“Now, all the Wynnum boys. I’m really enjoying the group at Wynnum. We’re not getting the results we want at the moment, but I’m having a really fun year so far. My halves partner this year Kurt Falls, my security guard (back rower) who’s saved my butt a few times this year Luke Gale, Josh Stuckey and Ollie Pascoe – comedians of the team; Matty Milson… played with him at Norths and now Wynnum.

“All of the clubs I’ve played at hold a special place in my heart. Redcliffe, I went there and won a comp and went back and we went to a grand final and unfortunately didn’t win.

“Norths, I got to get coached by Rohan Smith… the people who know Rohan and the players who have been coached by Rohan know he’s a pretty special guy and so that was cool.

“And then, going to Wynnum Manly, after bouncing between Redcliffe and Norths, to be coached by Mat Head who has played NRL, also as a halfback, and to play with different guys who I have played against, now getting to be on their team, it’s pretty cool.

“Each of the three clubs hold a special place in my heart.”

A muddy game away at Tweed in Round 8.

Donovan said most importantly, he could not do what he did without the support of his childhood sweetheart and now wife Jess, and two-year-old daughter Willow.

“I moved up from Newcastle. I spent my whole life and footy career there… played Cup with Newcastle and 20s with Newcastle… and then I had a shoulder reconstruction after the 2016 season and I think I moved up here at the end of 2017 for something different and just fell in love with the joint,” Donovan said.

“I have put my wife Jess through the ringer with footy over the years. Without her support each year – obviously there’s several nights a week I’m away from home – I come home to dinner ready, I don’t have to do anything… I’m pretty much a big baby.

“Without her, I would not be playing football and I would be really struggling to look after myself. She is the MVP of our family. We’ve been together since Year 8.”

Donovan said Willow – “the hurricane”, who turns three on September 16, the day his second baby is due – kept him grounded.

“She’s always awesome… when she was born, my one thing was I wanted to keep playing footy at this level and perform well enough until she’s at an age where she can comprehend what’s going on,” Donovan said.

“She comes to every game with her little Wynnum Manly jersey on. Even when we’re sitting watching NRL on TV and we ask who her favourite NRL team is, she says the Seagulls, where daddy plays, which is pretty cool.

“And any time I’m in a slump, or coming off the field after a loss – I take a loss pretty hard – I see her on the sideline and she comes running over with a massive smile, and yeah, that’s exactly what I need after a loss. She takes me away footy and makes me realise there’s a bigger picture there.

“She won’t be there this weekend in Rockhampton, but she’ll be glued to Qplus.tv.”

Donovan – a project co-ordinator at a stock fitting company – said he simply love footy, and his life and he hoped to continue on the track he was on for many more years.

“On the field, I’d still love, in my future, to tick off my goal of playing NRL. Outside of that, I need to win another comp after losing a couple of years ago… I really want the chance to fix that up,” he said.

“In 2022, got beaten my Norths after I left there… trying to wipe that from my memory but it’s really hard.

“I want to play as good as I can for as long as I can. If I can tick off a few more milestones like 150 or 200, that’d be pretty cool. I guess I’m just going to play until the wheels fall off.

“Away from footy, I just want to have a happy and healthy family and enjoy their company.”

Donovan has kicked conversions at a high rate for the Seagulls all season.

Bryce Donovan’s honour roll

Note: He wanted to name everyone who has helped him get to 100 games but couldn’t.

Relationship/s Name/s
Mum and dad Kelly Donovan and Darren Vial
Wife Jess Donovan
Daughter Willow Donovan
Redcliffe Dolphins teammates Trai Fuller, Cameron Cullen, Sheldon Pitama, Nathan Watts and Jarrett Boland
Norths Devils coach and teammates Rohan Smith, Jack Ahearn, Moses Noovao-McGreal, Connor Broadhurst, Brendan Frei and Matty Milson (with the latter three crossing over to Wynnum Manly)
Wynnum Manly Seagulls coach and teammates Mat Head, Kurt Falls, Luke Gale, Josh Stuckey and Ollie Pascoe

Maroons Welcome Seagulls To Origin Week

QLD Maroons welcomed the BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls to Sanctuary Cove last week in the lead up to State of Origin Game 3.

The opportunity arose with the Seagulls on a bye week, and our players were excited to be a part of it.

The session allowed QLD to run both attacking and defensive shapes at the Seagulls in order to prepare for a massive game on Wednesday night.

It was a timely boost for the Seagulls team that has hit a rough patch, and should provide inspiration for the run home to the finals.

Wynnum Manly were very grateful for the experience and wish the QLD team all the best for Game 3.

#Queenslander

1984 Premiership Reunion

We’re proud to announce a very special event to recognise one of our greatest years at Wynnum Manly.

Our 40-year, 1984 Premiership Reunion will be held on Sunday 25 August inside the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club.

This team consisted of names like Wally Lewis, Gene Miles, Colin Scott and Greg Dowling.

A true who’s who of rugby league greats in a team that has been touted as the best BRL team ever, and potentially the greatest club rugby league side put together.

We’ll have a chance to hear from these Wynnum Manly legends on stage as they recount stories from their Premiership year.

We’ll also have some priceless items up for auction, and raffles prizes to be won.

50% of the proceeds from the reunion event will be donated to CTE research in remembrance of another Wynnum Manly legend, Paul Green.

Following the reunion lunch, we’ll host a Wynnum vs Easts legends match, and then our Round 23 Hostplus Cup match against the Brisbane Tigers.

The winner of our final round Hostplus Cup match will be awarded the Paul Green Medal for the second year in a row.

This will be a fantastic event to celebrate our 1984 Premiership team and will be a great day for all Seagulls supporters.

If you can’t make it to the reunion lunch, get yourself to BMD Kougari for our legends match and Hostplus Cup match as we head into finals footy.

For tickets and more information, click here.

Kick For Cash Is Back

The Chemist Warehouse Kick For Cash promotion is back for 2024!

Our friends at Chemist Warehouse (Wynnum and Tingalpa stores) are offering you the chance to win upto $5,000 at our home game against the Townsville Blackhawks on Saturday 17 August!

We’ve run this promotion for a number of years now, and our supporters have walked away with some serious cash.

All you have to do to get yourself in the draw is spend $30 at Chemist Warehouse Wynnum or Tingalpa. When you’re at the checkout counter, mention ‘Kick For Cash’ to the attendant and they will enter you into the draw.

It’s as easy as that. Spend $30 for your chance to win $5,000.

One lucky winner will then get the opportunity to ‘Kick For Cash’ on Saturday 17 August. Kick 3 successful conversions from different positions on BMD Kougari Oval and you’ll walk away with $5,000!

Chemist Warehouse staff will also be present on the day and give away some goodies to our Seagulls supporters.

Redcliffe Rivalry Resumes on Saturday

The fiercest rivalry in the Hostplus Cup competition resumes this Saturday afternoon at Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium.

BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls will travel north to face the Redcliffe Dolphins in Round 15.

With both teams positioned in 3rd and 5th respectively, this promises to be a quality game of football between two teams with high hopes for the 2024 season.

The Seagulls are coming off a draw at home with the CQ Capras, while the Dolphins are fresh off the bye.

Both teams will want a win consolidate their position in the top half of the ladder.

Round 15 for the Seagulls is at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe, on Saturday 22 June. Kickoff at 5pm.

We’re looking forward to the challenge, and to seeing plenty of red and green support at the game!

#UpTheGulls

6 Seagulls Named in QLD U19 Teams

Off the back of outstanding performances for their respective McDonalds Seagulls Academy teams, 6 Seagulls players have been named in the QLD U19 squads, released today.

Cameron Bukowski, Beni Allen and Harry Armstrong have been named in the QLD U19 Men’s squad.

While Destiny Mino-Sinapati, Mariah Brown and Caitlin Tanner have been named in the QLD U19 Women’s squad.

Beni Allen runs the ball for our Mal Meninga Cup U19 team.

This is a great result for these players, and is just reward for their efforts during the 2024 season.

The Seagulls Harvey Norman U19 Women’s team had some mixed results, but Mariah and Caitlin stood out all year. Destiny was injured early in the BMD Premiership season, but her previous performances were enough to force her way into the squad.

Following the conclusion of the U19 season, Mariah and Caitlin stepped up into our BMD Premiership squad and earned their debuts immediately.

Mariah Brown breaks away to score for her Harvey Norman U19 team.

The Seagulls Mal Meninga Cup U19 team made the semi finals before they were beaten. After starting their season 0-3, they won 6 of their next 7 games.

Similar to the girls above, Harry and Beni stood out all season and have now been elevated into the Seagulls Hostplus Cup squad. While Cameron Bukowski, similar to Destiny Mino-Sinapati, spent most of the U19 season injured but his reputation and previous performances were enough to consolidate his spot in the QLD U19 squad. Cameron is also part of our Hostplus Cup squad for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Both QLD teams will face NSW on Thursday 20 June at Leichardt Oval in Sydney.

The BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls player pathway has proven fruitful once again with these representative selections, and we look forward to seeing how they all go next Thursday night representing QLD.

BMD Premiership Season Finishes Against Falcons

The Seagulls 2024 BMD Premiership season can be summed up in one word: injuries.

Before the season, the Seagulls were confidently hoping to avenge their 2023 Grand Final loss, and had assembled a fantastic squad that could get the job done.

The Round 1 team contained 10 NRLW-contracted players, including superstars Julia Robinson, Romy Teitzel and Shaylee Bent, and future stars Destiny Mino-Sinapati and Sienna Lofipo.

However, over the course of the 9 week season, coach Ron Troutman was forced to use 30 different players due to injuries of varying severity.

The good news is that multiple players from our Harvey Norman U19 squad were able to step up and make their debuts for our BMD Premiership team, such as Mariah Brown and Caitlin Tanner, which will only strengthen the squad for 2025.

The Seagulls continued to fight through their injuries and ended up being one win away from a finals berth. A result to be proud of despite the circumstances.

The coaching staff also uncovered a few gems in rugby union-converts Ellie Draper and Alana Elisaia, and touch football player Joanne Visser – all established in their respective sports, but having their first go at rugby league this season.

Wynnum Manly also had 4 women chosen for the QLD Origin One squad, and 4 women chosen in the QLD U19 emerging Origin squad.

Our girls will be back bigger and better in 2025, and look to return to finals football!

#UpTheGulls

Seagulls Heading For Stradbroke Island

The BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls are heading back to North Stradbroke Island for our annual Indigenous recognition match.

On Sunday 19 May, we’ll take on the Sunshine Coast Falcons at Ron Stark Oval, Dunwich and celebrate the contribution of the Indigenous people to the local Redlands region.

We are proudly supported by Deadly Choices, Redland City Council, Yulu Burri Ba and Sealink for the match, and each of our partners will be present on the day.

There will be plenty of junior games throughout the day and market stalls along the sideline. And then from 1:30pm we’ll have a traditional Welcome to Country and dance ceremony before some traditional games for the kids.

The main game kicks off at 3pm, and will be a battle of two high-flying Top 8 teams.

For anyone wanting to come over for the day, book your ferry tickets through Sealink and use the code HOSTPLUS2024 for 20% a return trip.

Join the Facebook event here.

Seagulls Magic Round Sports Lunch

NRL legend Bryan Fletcher and NRL commentator Anthony Maroon are coming to the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club on Friday May 17th!

The Seagulls are excited to host our Sports Lunch on the eve of Magic Round, with an afternoon of laughs guaranteed!

Hear Fletch’s infamous stories from his playing days, including how he tackled Russell Crowe in a pub, and be entertained by the man with golden tonsils, Anthony Maroon, who will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Whether you’re heading to Brisbane for Magic Round and would like to kick off the weekend early, or you just want to enjoy a great lunch and have a laugh, come and support the Wynnum Manly Seagulls on Friday May 17th at the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club. We’ll also have some outstanding memorabilia up for grabs, with the profits being directed back into the Seagulls football program to support the next flock of juniors coming through.

Details for Friday 17th of May:
Wynnum Manly Leagues Club
11:45am arrival for a 12pm start
2 course meal and 3 hour drinks package
3pm finish (time to head into Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium)
$1500 for a table of 10 or $150 per person

You can purchase tickets by clicking this link.

Can’t wait to see you there!

For more info, contact tcosgrove@wynnumseagulls.com.au