The BMD Premiership is well and truly underway and Round 1 certainly lived up to the hype.
Kicking off the 2025 season were the Brisbane Tigers and competition newcomers, the Northern Pride.
The Pride fell behind early, though they were able to strike back through Kimberley Hunt and Sian Williams in quick succession, finishing the first half with a two-point deficit.
In the second half however, the Tigers protracted their claws, as Porche John and Tahlia Marshall both crossed to extend the Tigers lead.
In a very fitting end to the game, milestone woman Kelsey Parkin crossed for a try in her 50th game for the club, sending Totally Workwear Stadium into a frenzy, as the Brisbane Tigers start their campaign 1 from 1.
Further south on the border, the Tweed Seagulls got their season started in nail biting fashion, narrowly downing last year’s premiers 20-14.
Points were hard to come by in the first half, with both sides managing a single try each as the half time score read 4-4.
The field opened up in the second half however, as Lyrech Mara and Paityne Johns put the Mackay Cutters ahead 14-8 with 15 minutes left in the match.
The score would remain this way until the 64th minute, as the Cutters seemingly had the game tied up.
However, a miraculous finish for Tweed would see them strike twice in the final five minutes of the game through Allira Watson and Kaliyah Browning, as the Seagulls wrapped up a brilliant victory at home.
The second debut team this season, the Ipswich Jets, appeared wholly at home in the BMD Premiership, trouncing the Central Queensland Capras 38-10 in Rockhampton.
Jets five-eighth Monikah Va’ai was a standout performer in her side’s big win, scoring a try and running for a whopping 175 metres with 9 tackle breaks.
Winger Nikki Cox bagged a hat trick, as the Ipswich Jets fly to the top of the table after their first outing in the BMD Premiership.
The Burleigh Bears have continued their pre-season form into the regular season, downing the Western Clydesdales 32-18 at UAA Park.
Centre Sienna Harris was immense, nabbing two tries, two line break assists, and a try assist.
The Bears’ halves were both strong in addition, with Sienna Laing and Mystery Kora assisting four tries between themselves.
Zoe Cook of the Western Clydesdales did all she could in a losing side, with the powerful prop scoring two tries and running for 170 metres in a stellar performance.
The other Grand Finalist from the 2024 BMD Premiership season, the Norths Devils, carried their form into this current season, making it one win from as many games against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Despite a first minute try from Larrisa Crummer of the Falcons, the Devils remained in the driver’s seat for the majority of the game.
Paris Pickering was the standout performer with a first half double, a try assist and seven tackle breaks.
Devils’ fullback Ashleigh Kelvin picked up a double in the second half, as two late tries for the Falcons would see the match finish 24-14 in favour of the home side.
Further south in Brisbane the Souths Logan Magpies put on a clinic at home, defeating the Wynnum Manly Seagulls 38-10.
Front rower April Ngatupuna put in a mammoth shift, scoring one try and assisting two, showing a very deft touch for a prop.
Sienna Ibrahim was also immense, scoring a double and busting ten tackles in a dominant showing at centre.
ROUND 1 RESULTS
SATURDAY JUNE 14
Brisbane Tigers 26 def Northern Pride 16 at Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
Tweed Seagulls 20 def Mackay Cutters 14 at Seagulls Sporting Complex, Tweed Heads
Ipswich Jets 38 def Central Queensland Capras 8 at Rugby Park, Rockhampton
Burleigh Bears 32 def Western Clydesdales 8 at UAA Park, Gold Coast
Norths Devils 24 def Sunshine Coast Falcons 14 at Bishop Park, Brisbane
SUNDAY JUNE 15
Souths Logan Magpies 38 def Wynnum Manly Seagulls 10 at Davies Park, Brisbane
