Bundaberg Rugby League - Round One: Eastern Suburbs Magpies vs Across the Waves Bundaberg

With a clash between the two top teams from the 2025 season, this was the talk of the BRL and with both sides naming very strong lineups, this game did not disappoint.

From the opening whistle, the tension between the two squads was electric. It was a physical start, with neither side willing to take a backward step. The Waves boys were fired up, clearly motivated by departing players, and made sure every tackle counted. Early penalties saw momentum swing both ways, but it was ATW who struck first.

A barnstorming run from captain Kiya Schnabel saw him crash over to open the scoring. With the conversion successful, ATW jumped out to a 6-0 lead.

Easts responded through strong defence, which helped swing momentum back in their favour. That pressure paid off, with crafty dummy-half Lukas Blair darting over for Easts’ first try of the season. The conversion locked things up at 6-6 with only minutes remaining in the half.

Tensions boiled over several times, showing just how much this game meant to both sides. A few controversial penalties had the crowd vocal, but at halftime, the scores remained locked at 6-6 in a gripping contest.

The second half picked up exactly where the first left off - physical, intense, and fast-paced. Easts were the first to strike, with the electric Tyson Douglas throwing an early pass to Jensen Deamer, who crossed against his old club. An unsuccessful conversion gave Easts a 10-6 lead with 30 minutes to play.

The game continued to go back and forth, with tough carries from Easts’ outside backs proving crucial. That effort earned them a penalty, and they opted to take the two points, extending their lead to 12-6 with 20 minutes remaining.

The Waves boys weren’t happy with the call, and neither were the fans, who made their feelings known from the grandstand. A series of penalties followed, briefly taking the sting out of the game.

Just when it looked like Easts had done enough, Waves struck back.

A clever run from utility Riley Morcom saw him dive over in the corner, bringing the score back to 12-10 and sending the crowd into a frenzy. With just two minutes to play, the Waves turned to Ryan Bugeja to level the scores.

With the crowd roaring and Easts fans doing everything they could to put him off, Bugeja stepped up - but the kick drifted wide.

That miss sealed a hard-fought 12-10 victory for Easts in one of the most physical and entertaining clashes of the round.

If this game is anything to go by, it won’t be the last time we see these two sides go to war -they’ve set the standard for the 2026 season.