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Dominant New Zealand Warriors Defeat Burleigh Bears in NRL State Championship Final By [BBC Sport Reporter Name] The Burleigh Bears, champions of the Queensland Hostplus Cup, were decisively beaten on Saturday in the NRL State Championship Grand Final, falling 50-20 to the New Zealand Warriors' reserve grade side at Accor Stadium in Sydney. The defeat, which saw the Bears struggling to contain a relentless attacking display from their New South Wales Cup counterparts, marks a poignant end to what was otherwise a celebrated and title-winning season for the Gold Coast club. The State Championship, an annual fixture designed to pit the premier reserve grade teams from Australia’s two primary feeder competitions against each other, often acts as a barometer for the depth of talent across the state lines. While Burleigh arrived in Sydney following a courageous victory in the Hostplus Cup Grand Final, they encountered a Warriors side that delivered a clinical and commanding performance, establishing an unassailable lead early in the contest. The result saw the New Zealand club claim their maiden State Championship title. The Warriors, fresh from winning the NSW Cup, wasted no time asserting their authority, exploiting gaps in the Burleigh defensive line with speed and precision. They bolted to a rapid 28-0 lead inside the first half hour, leaving the Bears shell-shocked. The pace and execution of the Warriors’ spine players—particularly halfback Tanah Boyd, who was instrumental throughout the game—proved overwhelming.
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Boyd, who finished with 18 points from a try and seven goals, was credited with four try assists and controlled the momentum expertly with an accurate kicking game. The Queensland side’s first points came in the 36th minute when lock Cole Geyer scored a much-needed try just before the break, providing a brief moment of reprieve. However, the Warriors responded immediately on the stroke of half-time, extending their lead to 32-6 and effectively extinguishing any hope of a Burleigh comeback. This early dominance highlighted the intense pressure placed on the Queensland champions, whose possession rate and completion rate struggled against the relentless assault. In the second half, despite the deficit, the Burleigh Bears showed resilience. Second-rower Ewan Moore crossed for an impressive try following a chip and chase from five-eighth Josh Rogers, demonstrating flashes of the attacking flair that had secured them the Queensland premiership. Later, Rogers scored a try himself, and winger Mitchell Watson added another late in the game, allowing the Bears to put 14 points on the board in the final quarter and restore a degree of respectability to the scoreline. The significance of the 50-20 result extends beyond just the match itself, reigniting a long-standing debate about the relative strength of the Queensland and New South Wales reserve grade competitions.
While the Bears earned the right to contest the final through their domestic success, the magnitude of the loss has prompted questions in some quarters regarding the developmental pathways and structural differences between the two state competitions. Historically, Queensland teams have found the State Championship to be an exceptionally tough fixture, underlining the challenge of transitioning quickly from one competitive peak to another. Speaking anonymously to a Queensland rugby league correspondent after the contest, a club official reflected on the broader context of the loss. “The State Championship is a tough capstone. It’s the ultimate test of depth, especially when you are coming off a gruelling domestic final and facing a fully loaded team often comprised of established NRL-level players,” the official stated. “We didn't execute our defensive structures early, and at this level, that costs you dearly. But it doesn't detract from the fact that this group of Burleigh Bears players are Queensland champions. That achievement stands on its own.
” The Bears’ head coach, Luke Burt, whose tactical acumen was instrumental in steering the side to their first Hostplus Cup title since 2019, will now enter the off-season focused on retaining key talent and planning for the 2026 season. Players such as Rogers and Geyer, who demonstrated individual moments of brilliance against superior opposition, are likely to be monitored closely by National Rugby League (NRL) clubs looking to bolster their rosters. The State Championship fixture often serves as an unofficial NRL trial, offering players a high-pressure environment to showcase their capabilities. For the Burleigh Bears, the final siren in Sydney brings to an end a marathon season that was ultimately successful, despite the comprehensive defeat. The club secured its fourth Queensland Cup title after a tough-fought final against the Norths Devils, overcoming injury challenges along the way. While the State Championship loss remains a footnote of disappointment, the primary achievement of domestic premiership success will be the enduring legacy of the 2025 campaign. The challenge for the Bears now is to use the experience gained from facing a top-tier reserve side like the Warriors as a catalyst for growth, ensuring they return next season with the improved resilience and depth required to compete at the highest level of the state championship arena.
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