Warrigals break Pelicans’ hearts in preliminary final thriller

By Chase Christensen

The Sunshine Coast rugby league faithful were treated to a classic on Sunday September 7 as the Bribie Warrigals outlasted the Beachmere Pelicans in a dramatic C-Grade preliminary final at Sunshine Coast Stadium. In a clash that had everything - big hits, momentum swings and a late match winner - the Warrigals prevailed 18-12 to secure their place in the grand final against reigning champions the Caloundra Sharks. 

This wasn’t just another semi-final - it was a true cross-town derby with plenty on the line. Both Bribie and Beachmere had defied the odds earlier in the finals, knocking over heavyweights Kilcoy to reach this stage. With a grand final berth at stake and local bragging rights up for grabs, neither side held back.

Beachmere drew first blood in the opening minutes when Stu Suniula powered through Bribie’s line with a barnstorming run, planting the ball down to give the Pelicans an early edge. The Pelicans seemed to carry all the momentum until the 18th minute when a high tackle deep in Bribie’s own corner shifted the tone of the contest.

That moment opened the door for the Warrigals and it was Lachlan Draper who took full advantage. Producing a dazzling solo effort, Draper stepped through defenders to score and drag his side back into the match. From that point the contest settled into a gripping seesaw battle.

The highlight of the afternoon came midway through the second half. Beachmere’s Suepasi Pelesa turned the game on its head with a breathtaking 65-metre dash, scooping up a downfield Bribie kick and racing the length of the park to score, what was from eye-to-eye, the try of the day. The Pelicans’ sideline erupted sensing the tide was shifting their way once more.

But as the half wore on Beachmere were left to rue crucial missed opportunities. Late in the first half they squandered a golden 3-on-1 overlap with the line wide open, leaving Bribie scrambling but somehow unbroken. To add salt to the wound, a runaway try from the Pelicans was pulled back after the officials ruled the final pass forward. Those moments would prove costly.

Bribie, as they have done all year, dug deep. Jake Murcutt crashed over to level the scores at 12-all with just 15 minutes remaining setting up a grandstand finish. The tension was almost unbearable when ‘Gizzy’ Guireh Brooks spilled the ball from the kick-off. But in a testament to Bribie’s spirit, his teammates rallied around him, defending their line with everything they had to keep Beachmere at bay.

The decisive blow came when Jack McAlister scooted out of dummy half catching the Pelicans napping and burrowing over to score the match-winner. Captain Nick Wilmot capped off Bribie’s defensive grit with a heroic effort to wrap up the ball in the dying stages, preventing what could have been a Beachmere equaliser.

When the full-time whistle blew it was relief and jubilation for the Warrigals, while the Pelicans were left to reflect on what might have been.

For Beachmere, it was still a season to celebrate. After missing finals altogether last year they proved they could mix it with the best and will enter 2026 brimming with belief. For Bribie, the win was all the sweeter considering the hurdles they faced having lost a significant number of players during the off-season.

The Warrigals took on the mighty Caloundra Sharks, the undisputed kings of C-Grade in the grand final on September 14 – The Local News went to print before we knew the result of this match.