Bears vs Capras HPC Round 23 Pre Game Report ✍🏼 Michael Nunn

The UAA Burleigh Bears head into the final round of the Hostplus Cup regular season knowing there is plenty still to play for when they welcome the Central Queensland Capras to UAA Park on Saturday.

The Bears currently sit fourth on the ladder, but the equation is anything but simple. Depending on the results across the final round, Burleigh can finish anywhere from third to sixth, meaning every tackle, try and point could have a significant impact on their finals campaign.

It makes this clash with the Capras much more than simply a final hit-out before September. Burleigh will be looking to finish the regular season with momentum and, importantly, put themselves in the best possible position heading into the finals.

The Bears have already experienced the frustration of letting the Capras get the better of them this season. Central Queensland claimed a 24-18 victory over Burleigh in Rockhampton in Round 8, holding off a late Bears comeback after leading 12-8 at half-time. The Capras produced two converted tries in a six-minute burst in the second half to establish the decisive advantage.

That result will provide plenty of motivation for the Bears on Saturday.

History, however, favours Burleigh. The two clubs have met 22 times in the Hostplus Cup, with the Bears winning 14 encounters compared with eight victories for the Capras.

Central Queensland will arrive at UAA Park with plenty of confidence of their own. The Capras are currently sitting inside the top eight and have put themselves in a position to challenge for a finals berth. With both sides having plenty riding on the result, this promises to be a physical and entertaining contest.

For Burleigh, the key will be maintaining the standards that have helped them establish themselves as one of the competition’s leading sides. The Bears have shown throughout 2026 that they have the ability to match it with the best teams in the competition, but consistency and discipline will be crucial as they prepare for the intensity of finals football.

UAA Park has also been a fortress for the Bears over the years, and they will be keen to make home-ground advantage count one more time before the real business begins.

There is also an element of unfinished business from the Round 8 encounter. The Bears will know they left points on the table in Rockhampton and will be determined to reverse the result in front of their home supporters.

The permutations surrounding the ladder mean there is no room for complacency. Third place could provide a significant boost, while dropping to sixth would create a very different path through the finals.

That makes Saturday’s clash a genuine finals rehearsal.

The Bears know where they can finish. The Capras know there is plenty at stake. And with the regular season coming down to its final 80 minutes, Burleigh have the perfect opportunity to build momentum, settle the Round 8 score and enter September with confidence.