Don’t know what to do this Saturday? The Bears have got you covered!Get on down to Pizzey Park this Saturday for Round 1 of the Cyril Connel Challenge and Auswide Mal Meninga Cup competitions.
Then stay around for our week 2 trial games against Tweed … #SaturdayAtTheBears
Intrust Super Cup
UAA Burleigh Bears 18 def Brisbane Tigers 16
Hastings Deering Colts
Burleigh Bears 20 drew Brisbane Tigers 20
Harvey Norman u19 women’s
Wynnum 24 def Burleigh Bears 4
UAA Burleigh Bears v Brisbane Tigers
Saturday 27 Feb
Totally Workwear Stadium, Langlands Park.
Intrust Super Cup @ 6.00pm
Hastings Deering Colts @ 4:00pm
U19 Harvey Norman Womens
Burleigh Bears v Wynnum Manly
Sat 27 Feb
Bill Norris Oval Beenleigh @ 12.30pm
By Saavanah Bourke
It all started two years ago, when Burleigh Bears veteran Jamal Fogarty stubbled across a young and talented 19 year old Indigenous halfback named Shallin Fuller.
Playing for the Beaudesert Kingfishers Junior Rugby League Club at the time, Forgarty’s words influenced Fuller’s rugby league career for the better.
“Jamal played a big part in me moving over to the Burleigh Bears,” Shallin Fuller said.
“He came up to me at a game I was playing at in Beaudesert and he knew my story and saw my potential and wanted me to have a future at the club.”
That’s exactly what happened, Fuller finishing off his 2019 season with the Burleigh Bears in the Hasting Deering Colts competition.
Last year he continued to grow with the club, playing in the Gold Coast A Grade QTOP competition, and in a year like no other, it was an experience he came out stronger from.
“I really loved it, it was a great learning opportunity for me,” Fuller said.
“I only had a couple of games in A Grade when I played in Colts the previous year, but playing against full grown men every week was really challenging.
“It gave me a better understanding of how to play the game and I really improved from it.”
Now approaching his third year with the Bears, Fuller has raised the bar for himself yet again in 2021.
“My main goal this year is to play a game in the Intrust Super Cup.
“I believe I’m more than ready for it at any time this year.”
Friday nights trial against the Gold Coast Titans was the ultimate test, where Fuller proved he’s a worthy contender.
“I had a different feeling going out onto the field in this years Titans trial.
“Going up against a club like the Titans and their full time playing group had me scared and worried last year.
“This year I was hungry to get out there and show everyone what I’ve got.”
But the main message Fuller has taken from his Indigenous idol is, in the game of rugby league timing is everything, and Fogarty is one who knows that best.
“He’s taught me the mentality of not to rush, just be patient, and my time will come.
“Hopefully I’ll be like him some day, and when my time does come, I’ll just take it.”
Aside from playing in the Intrust Super Cup, Fuller has his sights set on even bigger long term goals.
“Playing in the NRL has been a dream of mine since I was a kid.
“My family has been behind me ever since I first picked up a football.”
And for the 21-year old, family is everything.
“It was pretty hard when I was growing up because Mum was a single parent.
“My family is my main motivation. I do it for myself, but I also do it for them.”
Coming to the end of what he believes to be his best pre-season yet, Fuller hopes to showcase his improved knowledge of the game in the club’s upcoming trials.
“There is a lot of talent here at Burleigh and in these trial matches you have to show that you want that position more than the person next to you.
“My intentions during these trial matches is to just go out there and give it 100 percent.”
The Bears next trial game is against Easts Tigers on Saturday.
Saavanah Bourke
A miraculous 20 point comeback from the younger UAA Burleigh Bears players was the standout for coach Rick Stone in Friday nights 36-34 victory against the Gold Coast Titans.
“They finished off the game really well,” he said.
“To manage a big chunk of possession and really wear the Titans down at the back end of the game was very impressive.”
In what was shaping up to be a blue and gold victory, the impact of Cole Geyer, Shallin Fuller, Connor Toia and Taine Tuaupiki caught Stones eye.
“That will be a real confidence booster for them.”
Trailing 34-16 in the back end of the second half, tries from Blake Leary, Josh Berkers, Lochlyn Sheldon and Allan Lockwood saw the Bears move to a 2 point lead with minutes remaining.
A penalty awarded to the Titans in the final seconds of the game gave Titans halve Tanah Boyd a chance to level the score.
The impressively struck conversion fell just centimetres short, securing the Bears hard fought victory.
The game finished just as well as it started, Bears centre Sami Sauiluma opening the scoring.
Two tries for the Titans followed, before a try from Bears winger Troy Leo and fullback Kurtis Rowe kept the Bears competitive, the Titans leading 22-16 into the break.
However, the 52 minute mark was where their points dried up, the Bears a dominant force for the remaining minutes of play.
Playmakers Guy Hamilton, Josh Rogers and Pat Politoni impressing during their time on the field.
“I thought they managed the game really well,” Stone said.
But halfback Guy Hamiltons says this is just the beginning.
“It’s good now to have the first game out of the way,” Hamilton said.
“Now I can focus on settling in and get a few more combinations with the boys, start having some fun and look to start the season well.”
Despite the win, there is still work to be done before the official season kicks off next month.
“There is still a bit to go before our final squad is made up,” Stone said.
“I think they are all experienced enough to know there is some parts of our game that were not happy with yet.”
The Bears next trial game is against Easts Tigers on Saturday.
Burleigh Bears 36 (Sami Sauiluma, Troy Leo, Kurtis Rowe, Blake Leary, Josh Berkers, Lochlyn Sheldon, Allan Lockwood tries; Guy Hamilton 2, Shallin Fuller 2 goals) def Gold Coast Titans 34 (Greg Marzhew 3, Jonus Pearson 2, Tremain Spry tries; Tanah Boyd 5 goals) at Pizzey Park.
Saavanah Bourke
Friday nights Pizzey Park clash against the Gold Coast Titans will be the ‘ultimate test’ for a very hungry UAA Burleigh Bears.
With the Intrust Super Cup drought finally over, and the opening round of the season edging closer, for some, Friday will be the first time to slip on a jersey in almost a year.
“There is obviously a lot of boys who didn’t play much last year,” Bears coach Rick Stone said.
“They’ve been at it (pre-season) since the end of November. They are in good shape and ready for a game.”
If Friday is anything like the stellar pre-season the Bears have had, Stone expects the boys to set the bar for the season ahead.
“There’s a raft of young players who are looking for an opportunity in the top side.
“We have a fairly established and senior side, they’ll all have to be on their toes because we’ve got hungry young players knocking at the door.”
Along with that established side comes some new faces in 2021, one of those is five-eighth Guy Hamilton.
The former Souths Logan Magpie added a QTOP premiership with the Runaway Bay Seagulls to his resume last year, and has been a stand out for Stone during the off season.
“He’s had a real good pre-season and hasn’t missed a beat.”
Titans train and triallists Corey Denniss, Andre Niko and Lloyd Perrett will line up for the Titans, likely to return to the Bears in the coming weeks.
“It will be good to see them get a run alongside the caliber of players the Titans have.”
The U19 Burleigh Bears Women’s side will face off against the West Brisbane Panthers at 5.30pm, before the Bears take on the Titans at 7pm.
WE ARE SOLD OUT!!
This Fridays Titans Trial is now sold out.
If you have not already pre-purchased tickets you will not be able to attend, unfortunately there will be no tickets sold at the gate.
cashless event | no pass outs
GAME DAY SCHEDULE:
5.25pm Gates Open
5.30pm Burleigh Bears U19 Women’s v Tweed U19 Women’s
7.00pm Burleigh Bears v Gold Coast Titans
Holders of an Aged Pension (AGE) Concession card, a Disability (DSP) Concession card may purchase a Concession ticket for this event. The appropriate Concession card must be produced upon request of event & ticketing staff. The Child price is applicable to children aged U18 years (ID may need to be provided) at the date of the event. Persons under 12 years of age will not be permitted entry unless under the direct supervision of an adult 18 years of age or over.
Tickets will be available for purchasing through Oztix only and must be pre-purchased.
Tickets are STRICTLY limited due to COVID restrictions on capacity.
Corporate area tickets will be available to purchase through the Rugby League Office.
CONDITION OF ENTRY
Facilities
Parking
General Terms and Conditions
The right of admission is reserved.
The Burleigh Bears reserve the right to refuse entry to, or to remove from, Pizzey Park any persons who are drunk or disorderly or whose conduct is unlawful or offensive or who are not entitled to attend the event or match.
Any person who causes a disturbance or who refuses to comply with reasonable requests from the Owner or the Hirer may be removed. Unauthorised persons are prohibited from entering the playing area and any other area not accessible by the public. Items which, in the opinion of management, have the potential to cause injury or a nuisance or inconvenience to any other person will not be permitted into Pizzey Park. These include controlled, dangerous or illegal substances, cans, bottles, flares, fireworks, laser pointers, loud hailers and weapons of any description and may include certain musical instruments, flags and flagpoles and any other items considered by management to have the potential to cause injury or a nuisance or inconvenience to any other person. Patrons assume all risk of any damage or loss (including property damage, personal injury, economic and consequential loss) however it arises at Pizzey Park.
Patrons bring personal effects onto the premises at their own risk. The Burleigh Bears will not be responsible for any damage to or loss or theft of a customer’s personal property. Under the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998 (Qld) smoking is prohibited in all areas of Pizzey Park and its precincts except for the designated areas. Patrons who smoke in non designated areas at Pizzey Park:
(a) commit an offence against the Act, to which fines apply; and
(b) may be immediately evicted from Pizzey Park.
