BY PETER ROWE
Having played in four consecutive NRLWA Fuel to Go and Play Premiership grand finals, 2025 didn’t work out as planned for the North Beach Sea Eagles.
Expectations at Charles Riley Reserve are always high. For years the Sea Eagles have been the benchmark for success.
“Our expectation every season is to make the grand final,” coach Phil Douché said this week.
“So, yes, 2025 was a disappointment. Our work ethic was not at the standard we’ve set in previous years and to be honest, I think we let ourselves down.”
Photo – Total Sports Photography
The Sea Eagles have fielded almost three different teams in the past three years, as players have retired, moved on or away and Douché has managed that process extremely well. He even had a spreadsheet set up manage the FIFO rosters of many of his squad.
“It was a different team to 2024, but we were confident and we started well. It was the final eight weeks when we lost Bailey Millar, Kobi Aeisi and Tyrone Cranstone that made a massive difference,” he said.
“With three key spine players missing it can hurt and we took our foot off the gas a bit as well.”
Photo – CAST Championships
The warning signs began at Rockingham when top lost to bottom in a shock result and despite some good results that followed the major semi-final at South Perth was a game Douché prefers to forget.
“Our work rate just wasn’t good enough and although we did improve in the preliminary final against Willagee, we just went off script and blew too many chances late in the game that if we had scored would have made it a very different year. In the end they (Willagee) were better than we were on the day.”
Injuries saw a rotation of players in key areas that didn’t help the cause.
“Our second rowers were changing every week, so it was really hard to get our timing right in those crucial areas,” Douché admitted.
Despite the clear disappointment, and the honesty in which Douché explains that, there were plenty of highlights to remember.
“Oh, of course. Our young boys stood up and that was really pleasing to see. Te Ra Hare Ahuriri and Riley Bradley had standout years. Billy (England) and Will (Dickinson) our two Poms were also great on and off the field. They bought into our club and its culture and that is so important for a player coming in from over east or from overseas.
Photo – Total Sports Photography
But mention lowlights and three games immediately come to the fore.
“The Rocky game was the first and then Fremantle,”Douché said. “The warning signs were there then.
“Of course the major semi-final at South Perth and losing Kobi for six weeks with a grade two medial strain. That hurts. Kobi could play hooker but also at lock and I was excited to see his ball handling skills from there, but he got injured and it didn’t happen.”
That major semi-final defeat still hurts Douché and it was his grr…. moment of the year.
“Watching the match video the following day was the toughest thing I had to do all year,” he said. “Frustrating would be an understatement and I still feel it.
South Perth players rank high when we discuss who were his players of the year. Soni Lang and Jayden Evans the two who tormented the most.
“Soni and Kainoa (Gudgeon) at Willagee were head and shoulders above – but their bar because of their professionalism is so much higher.
Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
“Jayden had a great season at nine for the Lions and I was impressed with Rangi Thompson at Willagee. A good ball player. And, young Jackson Hansen, who I coached in Pirates SG ball. He is quality.”
For Douché the young player to watch is Tom Sinclair. At 17, he played both reserves and then first grade for North Beach and then was best on ground for their reserve grade side at the recent grand final.
“A tough, smart footballer,” Douché said. “He’s a real student of the game, watches a lot of footy and is so quick out of dummy half. A clever footballer who could go far.”
Photo – Total Sports Photography
There’s one player in the team that Douché immediately called out when asked what his funniest moments were across the season, forward Kade Breen.
“He talks constantly in that Queensland ocker accent and he had a nickname for every player, chirping all the time in the sheds and on the field,” Douché said. “He certainly made me laugh a few times.”
So is there anything in hindsight you could have done differently?
“Our recruitment was good given the high turnover of players from previous seasons, but if there was one thing I’d probably say our conditioning could have been better and I think we were more club focussed this year than just first grade and that could have made a difference.
“Losing James Green with a bicep injury on his first game back was not good and big Gersh (Adams) being ruled out left us a bit light in the front row.”
Photo – Total Sports Photography
Like previous seasons for Douché putting together a winning team was like trying to place all the pieces of a jigsaw.
But in 2026 it looks like a job for a new coach with Douché planning to take a break from the intensity of coaching a first grade side.
“I wouldn’t say I’m retiring but I need a break, he said. “It’s sometimes 20 to 25 hours a week on top of a full-time job and family. I need to teach my young son how to pass a football.”
The club has already started its planning for the year ahead and their high standards will always be there – an expectation to be the best will rest with a new man at the helm.
“Rugby League is a great game, but you have turn up and put your body on the line. Off the field the club has some great people and they will be back for sure.”
Douché will still be around, watching games, but he won’t be in the pressure cooker atmosphere that is the bench.
For a club with so much history and winning culture, following in his footsteps will not be easy for whoever takes the reins.
But the legacy of what Phil Douché has achieved in recent years at Beach will always be remembered.
* Next up: South Perth Lions
