Bundaberg Rugby League - Round One: Bundaberg Brothers vs Maryborough Wallaroos

Game 1 saw Past Brothers take on the Maryborough Wallaroos in an up-and-down affair.

With both Brothers and the Roos looking to improve on last year’s results, both teams were out to prove they’re ready for the 2026 season — and they did just that. Each squad fielded a well-rounded lineup, showing strong attack while maintaining solid defence.

The game started as a real back-and-forth contest, with neither side willing to give in to the pressure. Both teams were happy to play conservative footy early. It wasn’t until a lapse in the Roos’ defensive line that Brothers lock Bryden Blair struck first, putting his side up 6–0 with plenty of time left in the half.

That sparked a response from the Roos, who executed a sharp set play to send Will Dwyer over for their first try of the season. With 16 minutes to go, the successful conversion locked things up at 6–6.

But the action didn’t stop there. Maryborough went back-to-back, with crafty hooker Damien Otto crossing to give the Roos the lead. Luke Waters converted to make it 12–6 with under 10 minutes remaining in the half.

The Wallaroos defended multiple sets on their line and looked set to hold out until halftime. However, in the final minute, Bryden Blair crossed again for his second try of the game. The conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 12–10 in favour of the Roos at halftime in a tightly contested match.

To start the second half, Brothers received a controversial penalty and elected to take the two points, levelling the scores at 12–12 with 35 minutes remaining.

A lacklustre second half from Brothers allowed Jordan Kemble to run amok, making several line breaks and playing a key role in the Roos’ next try. This saw centre Brandon Law cross with 22 minutes to play. The conversion was missed, leaving the Roos ahead 16–12.

From there, Maryborough showed their class, controlling possession and wearing down the Brothers defence. On the back of that pressure, Kemble broke through multiple tackles to score the final try of the game. A successful conversion sealed the result, with Maryborough running out 20–12 winners over Past Brothers.

And that wraps up the first game of the BRL season. The Roos have shown they mean business and will be pushing hard for a finals spot once again.

Keep an eye on the page for the next two game recaps — and hopefully you’re enjoying the write-ups!