Burleigh Bears vs Wynnum Manly Seagulls BMD Round 8 Game Report ✍🏼 Michael Nunn

The Burleigh Bears have sent a warning shot across the BMD Premiership with a devastating second-half performance, running away to a commanding 44-6 victory over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

While the final score suggests a comfortable night for the Bears, the first half told a very different story. Burleigh went to the break holding a slender 14-6 advantage, with Wynnum remaining within striking distance.

Then came the second half.

The Bears exploded out of the sheds, piling on 30 unanswered points to completely dismantle the Seagulls and turn a competitive contest into a statement victory.

Burleigh opened the scoring after just five minutes when Abigayle Sekitoga crossed the line diving on a well-placed Bears kick, giving the Bears an early advantage and setting the tone for what was to come.

Wynnum were unable to settle before Burleigh struck again in the 15th minute, with Chelsea Cooper adding her name to the scoresheet. The Bears went through the hands and found Cooper in the right-hand corner.

Four minutes later, Sienna Laing crossed for another Burleigh try, and suddenly the Bears were beginning to build some scoreboard pressure. Laing was backing up on the inside and ran around to score her second try this year.

But Wynnum refused to disappear.

The Seagulls managed to find their way over the line and keep themselves in the contest, ensuring Burleigh had to work hard for their 14-6 halftime lead.

At the break, the Bears had the points but certainly hadn’t yet put the Seagulls to bed.

Whatever was said in the Burleigh sheds at halftime clearly worked.

The Bears emerged for the second half with an entirely different level of intent.

In the 38th minute, Torah Luadaka crossed to stretch the lead, before Tavarna Papalii scored just four minutes later.

Burleigh were now in full flight, and Wynnum simply couldn’t keep up.

Chelsea Cooper grabbed her second try in the 47th minute as the Bears continued to turn the screw. The Seagulls were suddenly facing attacks from all angles, and every Burleigh possession looked capable of producing points.

The Bears weren’t finished.

Mia Byrnes crossed in the 62nd minute before Abigayle Sekitoga completed her double three minutes later.

And just when Wynnum were probably hoping the final siren might arrive early, Byrnes struck again in the 68th minute to complete her own double and put the exclamation mark on a remarkable victory.

For Wynnum, the second half was a nightmare.

For Burleigh, it was a statement.

The performance will send a few nervous glances around the BMD Premiership, because if Burleigh can produce that level of football for 80 minutes, there aren’t many teams in the competition who will fancy their chances.

The Bears have made their intentions very clear.

And with the finals race heating up, Burleigh have just reminded everyone that they are a team nobody will want to meet when the football really matters.