Willagee Bears 56 – North Beach Sea Eagles 16
By PETER ROWE
Willagee finished the first half of the 2026 Fuel to Go & Play Premiership season with an 11 try to three victory over the North Beach Sea Eagles on Saturday, still undefeated after nine rounds.
Centre Shai Wiperi opened the scoring on the first set of the game with winger Saimoni Qaranivalu next to cross.
Backrower John Leota added another before Te Putuangaanga Huriwai-Brown came off the bench to score the first of a double on his first grade debut.
Skipper Kainoa Gudgeon was next to score before winger Manfred Kelly and fullback Iziah Lolohea added their names to the team manager’s scoresheet.
Huriwai-Brown led the charge as the Bears scored four times late in the game, with Lolohea, Wiperi and Gudgeon again finding the whitewash.
“The scoreline doesn’t really reflect the game because Beach were good opposition,” coach Nelson Davis said.
“We slowed a bit but then picked up and we had a very good end to the game.”
Davis applauded the high standards his side has set, but is quick to ensure they do not get ahead of themselves.
Still unbeaten after nine rounds, he is happy at where the Bears are at.
“But we are not talking about unbeaten this or that, we’re keeping our feet firmly on the ground and taking it one week at a time.”
Gudgeon was Nelson’s best on field, his three in the traditional after match awards, leading from the front and scoring twice, and debutant Huriwai-Brown was also signed out for his efforts – two tries after stepping up from reserves.
Bowman Stein, Connor Morris and Riley Bradley were the scorers for the visitors with Justin Buckley kicking two conversions.
Beach coach Marty Collis was impressed with Willagee and pleased with the way his side played in patches.
“We made too many errors, poor execution at times and that gave them the ball,” he said.
“We tired at the end and they scored four tries which pushed the margin out, but fair play to them, they are a very good side and when their spine goes into action they set up the platform for their backs.
“We had lots of effort which we will take into next week’s game against Joondalup.”
Fullback Riley Bradley was Collis’ best on field. His work rate and hit-ups were superb, and a couple of try-saving tackles.
“He stepped up into that role and was in the game the whole time,” Collis said.
“KGB (Kallum Gulliver-Brown) and Bowman were also outstanding.”