Bears vs Tigers BMD Round 10 Pre Game Report ✍🏼 Michael Nunn

The stage is set for a highly anticipated BMD Premiership showdown when the undefeated Burleigh Bears travel to Totally Workwear Stadium on Saturday to face the Brisbane Tigers in a rematch of last year’s Grand Final.

It has been a long wait for the two sides to meet again. Their last encounter came in the 2025 decider, when the Tigers produced a dominant performance to defeat the Bears 22-6 and claim the premiership.

Brisbane went through last season undefeated on their way to the title, and the Bears will be keen to put their Grand Final disappointment behind them when the two heavyweights finally renew their rivalry.

Burleigh enter the clash in excellent form and remain the only undefeated team in the competition. The Bears are coming off an impressive 30-16 victory over the Northern Pride, a performance in which they controlled possession and kept their opponents under enormous pressure for much of the afternoon.

With 56 per cent of the ball, Burleigh repeatedly forced the Pride to defend and eventually ran them ragged. Chelsea Cooper was a constant threat with two-line breaks and the first try, while Teaghan Hartigan continued her strong form with 111 metres. Jamielee Anaru led the defensive effort with 24 tackles.

The Bears’ ability to maintain pressure for long periods will again be crucial against a Tigers side that knows exactly what it takes to win the big moments. However, there is one area Burleigh will want to clean up: discipline. Seven penalties against the Pride gave their opponents opportunities they simply cannot afford to hand to a quality team like Brisbane.

The Tigers will arrive with plenty of confidence of their own after defeating the Central Queensland Capras 22-10 in their most recent outing. Brisbane have established themselves as one of the competition’s leading teams again this season, and their recent form has ensured they remain firmly in the premiership conversation.

For Burleigh, the challenge is to turn their impressive regular season form into a statement against the reigning champions. The Bears have shown they can dominate possession, defend with intensity and produce points from all over the field, but the Tigers represent perhaps their toughest test yet.