Bears vs Capras BMD Round 11 Pre Game Report ✍🏼 Michael Nunn

The Burleigh Bears return to UAA Park on Saturday knowing they have plenty to play for when they take on the Central Queensland Capras in the final round of the BMD Premiership regular season.

After an outstanding run through the season, the Bears have now slipped back to second place on the ladder following their loss to the Brisbane Tigers. With finals football fast approaching, Burleigh will be keen to put that result behind them and finish the regular season strongly.

Bears still had plenty of positives in the loss to the Tigers; Jamielee Anaru was huge for the Bears with 33 tackles and centre Mia Byrnes made 149 metres.

The Bears just didn’t control the football with 43 percent of the ball and 42 more tackles than the Tigers the Bears didn’t give themselves the best chance.

The Bears have established themselves as one of the competition’s leading teams throughout 2026, and the final round provides an opportunity to regain some momentum before the intensity of September arrives. The minor premiership race remains a three-way battle, making every result in the closing stages of the regular season significant.

Standing in their way are a Capras side with nothing to lose.

Central Queensland cannot make the finals, but that certainly doesn’t mean they will be travelling to the Gold Coast simply for fish and chips and a day at the beach.

The Capras will be determined to finish their campaign on a high and, perhaps more importantly, build some confidence and momentum heading into 2027. A victory over one of the competition’s genuine premiership contenders would provide the perfect way to finish a difficult season.

For Burleigh, that makes this a potentially dangerous fixture.

The Bears cannot afford to look beyond the Capras or assume the result will take care of itself. Central Queensland has the freedom that comes with having nothing to lose, while Burleigh have the pressure of expectations and a top-two position to protect.

There is also a strong recent history favouring the Bears. The Capras haven’t defeated Burleigh since 2024, and the Bears will be determined to ensure that streak continues at their home ground.

UAA Park has been a familiar hunting ground for Burleigh, and the Bears will want to produce the type of performance that has made them such a difficult opponent throughout the season. Their challenge will be matching the Capras’ desperation and maintaining their defensive intensity from the opening whistle.

The loss to the Tigers should also provide an important lesson. Finals football is about responding to adversity, and the Bears now have the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that ability.

The Bears are chasing momentum, the Capras are chasing pride, and both sides have plenty to prove at UAA Park.