There’s a new name on the NRL WA Fuel to Go and Play Premiership trophy: the Willagee Bears.
The new boys in the competition, who finished fourth in the regular season and had to make the final via the long route, rose to the challenge with a superb second half to defeat South Perth Lions 22-10 in the grand final.
And it was the mercurial Kaiona Gudgeon who emerged the hero, with two scintillating tries and a man-of-the match performance, as the Bears – in hibernation for so many years – awoke to see off the minor premiers.
“This is what we have been working for all season,” Gudgeon said as teammates celebrated after the siren had signalled the victory.
“But it’s not all about me. Derek (Chizuni) is a tackle machine, Jacko (forward Jackson Hansen) kept moving forward, Tamaho (Tierney) kicked his socks off, Kelvin (Coleman) hits like a rocket and our edges stood up when they needed to. I couldn’t be more proud of all of them – awesome.”
Willagee Bears captain and Ron Hudson Medal winner Kainoa Gudgeon (right) with Perth Bears GM of Football David Sharpe, NRL WA GM John Sackson, Perth Bears CEO Anthony DeCeglie and the Willagee Bears mascot (middle).
©NRL WA
But it was a halftime switch that allowed Gudgeon to come into play and he delivered, scoring twice and having a hand in almost every go-forward set the Bears were involved in.
The fullback popped up in the halves, at dummy half and at first and second receiver as the Lions lost their discipline and in doing do failed in their attempt to maintain control the game.
“It was a game of two halves,” coach Nelson Davis said. “At halftime I told them we weren’t controlling the narrative. Soni (Langi) was leading that and we had to change it.
“And we had to get Kainoa involved more. The boys were disappointed with their performance. The penalty count didn’t help us either.”
Conceding nine penalties to four was certainly a factor in that first 40 minutes, but Davis kept believing.
Perth Bears coach and rugby league Immortal Mal Meninga with 2025 Ken Allen Medallist Samisoni Langi.
©NRL WA
“We have used the word all season. Belief. It has driven us to win a premiership,” he said.
“I knew we had to control the ruck because Jayden Evans was so strong there and that was giving Soni (Langi) the platform to do what he does best.
“That was crucial. Stop giving away silly penalties and play Bears footy. Then we could control the game.”
Despite the halt-time scoreline, it was the Bears who crossed to score first after just two minutes and off the back of their first set of the game.
Willagee Bears won their first NRLWA premiership, beating South Perth Bears in the 2025 grand final
©NRLWA
Halfback Tamaho Tierney, whose outstanding kicking throughout helped to build momentum, dummied and found a hole in the South Perth defence to score.
But the Lions quickly responded and four minutes later Langi moved the ball to Harry Debique, who found Chris Tuatara-Harrison in space. The backrow forward passed again to winger Josh Perring who dived over in the corner.
Then, with seven minutes remaining in the half, Langi found centre Logan Barclay who quickly moved the ball on to Jordan Tumoana and the winger raced across to put the Lions in front.
“We were comfortable with our performance at halftime,” Lions coach Duane Gwiazdzinski said.
“We were hoping to take advantage of the wind in the second half, but it died and we never really got going.
“The rhythm wasn’t there and we made too many mistakes. We gave away too may penalties and that hurt us.”
Gudgeon put the Bears back in front four minutes into the second half, stepping through the defence like a ballerina, before beating fullback Billy Judge to score.
Nine minutes later the Willagee captain was at it again, with another dazzling run through the South Perth defence to increase their lead.
Gudgeon was now involved in every set, organising play from dummy half, stepping in at first or second receiver and backing up his teammates as they wrestled to take the game their way.
Tierney skewed a penalty kick wide of the upright in the 65th minute but when back row forward Daniel Vi took a clever inside pass from winger Saimoni Qaranivalu with eleven minutes remaining it was clear the premiership trophy was heading back south to Webber Reserve.
“Congratulations to Willagee, they had all the momentum in that second half and deserved the win,” a disappointed coach Gwiazdzinski said.
“We lost control of the game. But it’s even a very good year for the club. From last place last year to minor premiers and a grand final appearance this year has been good.”
For Nelson and his dancing Bears it has been an amazing first season back in the top flight.
“I looked around at them earlier in the day before the game and could see they were relaxed. They were connected and knew what they had to do,” he said.
“We stayed composed, ground it out when had to and adjusted in the second half to win the game.
“There’s been a lot of hard work, a great bunch of players who all bought in and a club that backed me.
“They delivered what I needed to build the team and I’m very grateful to them for that. But we’re not done. We want to create a dynasty.”
And with Gudgeon confirming he will be back in 2026, that prediction may just come true.