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Coogee Randwick Wombats Reach Vegas 9s Grand Final in Stunning Tournament Debut

The Coogee Randwick Wombats, a grassroots rugby league club from Marcellin Fields in Maroubra, reached the grand final of the Vegas 9s tournament in Las Vegas on Saturday 28 February 2026, falling 30-14 to the Titans of Coal in the decider.

The result capped a massive shift for the Maroubra boys, who fought through six matches in 48 hours, toppling five different opponents to earn their spot in the big dance.

What Is the Vegas 9s

The Vegas 9s is an open-registration nines rugby league tournament held in Las Vegas prior to the United States national team games and the main event at Allegiant Stadium. Teams from across the world compete across two days at New Silver Bowl Park, with the tournament designed to grow rugby league’s footprint in North America while giving community clubs access to an international stage.

The Coogee Randwick Wombats entered the 2026 tournament as part of their annual end-of-season trip, travelling from Sydney with 21 players after a vote in the squad’s group chat produced a unanimous preference for Las Vegas. Manager Geoff Tunks said the club had made previous trips to America, Canada and Thailand, and that preparation at training had been strong in the lead-up, with more than 30 players attending Wednesday night sessions.

Day One: Solid Foundation

The Wombats entered the tournament placed in a pool alongside the Brooklyn Kings, Atlanta Copperheads and Riverton Seagulls. Their opening game against the Brooklyn Kings produced a narrow 12-8 defeat, with Luke Hennessy and Lycolan Bakri crossing for tries. The squad responded immediately in game two, running over the Atlanta Copperheads 30-18, with Hennessy and Bakri again scoring alongside Jake Roberts, Jake Tobin and Tyrell Mayfield. A 30-6 win over the Riverton Seagulls to close out the pool stage gave the Wombats a favourable seeding heading into the finals.

Day Two: All the Way to the Final

Day two began with a 30-10 dismissal of the Toronto Saints, before the Wombats advanced to the final four with a tense 24-22 victory over the Rabbitahz. That semifinal win set up a rematch with the Brooklyn Kings, who had beaten them on day one. The result was reversed, with the Wombats winning 18-8 to book their place in the grand final.

Their opponents in the decider were the Titans of Coal, who had dominated the pool stage with wins of 50-0, 48-0 and 32-4. While the Titans of Coal ultimately took the chocolates with a 30-14 victory, the Wombats’ clinical run to the final exceeded all expectations. For a club making its maiden voyage to the Vegas stage, coming home with the silver medal is a massive result for the Souths Juniors nursery.

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The Squad That Made It Happen

The Wombats travelled with an 18-man playing squad plus two injured players. Captain Harrison Marsh led the side, with coach Anthony Marsh directing from the bench. The squad included Harrison Marsh, Luke Hennessy, Pat Rabbitt, Colan Bakri, Jack Hassanein, Joshua Chan, Cash Adams, Jono Bong, Eden Potter, Mikey Mitsias, Robbie Hunt, Jake Roberts, Costa Sanidas, Corey Stevens, Jake Tobin, Zach Kambos, Tahi Sue, Nathan Vigilante, Tyrell Mayfield and Tyler Melville. Officials were coach Anthony Marsh, managers Geoff Tunks and Nicole Tobin, and trainers Scott Bramham and Matt O’Shea. Lachlan Rabbitt played for Boston across the tournament weekend.

Eden Potter, aged 20 and returning from more than 12 months on the sideline following a knee injury, was one of the squad’s standout stories. Tunks said Potter had come back fitter than before and had been eager to prove himself throughout the campaign.

The Maroubra club was not the only local connection at the Vegas weekend. Former Wombats junior and current New South Wales State of Origin and international player Jess Sergis appeared for the LA Roosters, while Ethan O’Neill featured for Leeds in the Super League clash at Allegiant Stadium.

Why This Achievement Matters for Maroubra

The Coogee Randwick Wombats are a community club in the truest sense. They train and play at Marcellin Fields in Maroubra, draw their playing roster from the local area, and rely on volunteers, families and local sponsors including Julian Fadini Property 360, Command 51 Cleaning and Grounds, Mellick Wealth Management, NG Farah Real Estate and The Bay Hotel and Diner.

For a club of this size and resource base to field a competitive squad at an international tournament and reach the grand final demonstrates the depth of talent and commitment that exists within the Maroubra and Coogee rugby league community. The achievement gives local junior players a visible example of the pathway available through the Wombats and demonstrates what the club’s culture of commitment and community can produce at the highest level it has yet attempted.

The club has already signalled its intention to return for the 2027 Vegas 9s, giving this year’s campaign a lasting legacy beyond the result itself.

Published 9-March-2026.

Free Parking at Maroubra Beach Could End as Paid Parking Proposal Emerges

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Free car parking at Maroubra and other eastern beaches is under threat following a proposal to introduce paid visitor parking across seven of Sydney’s most popular eastern beaches, with community feedback open until 5pm on 15 April 2026.

While Maroubra currently stands as Sydney’s best-value beach destination, offering three free car parks including one at Mahon Pool, that advantage may not last. A formal proposal to charge visitors for beach parking across the Randwick area has sparked a public debate about who should fund the $23.5 million annual cost of maintaining the beaches that millions of Sydneysiders enjoy each summer.

Maroubra: Sydney’s Free Parking Champion

Maroubra currently offers the best beach parking deal in Sydney’s eastern suburbs by a wide margin. Three free car parks serve the beach and its surrounds. These sit adjacent to the main beach at Jack Vanny Reserve on the northern headland near Mahon Pool and at South Maroubra Beach. Free street parking also remains available along Maroubra Parade with a four hour limit while surrounding side streets carry no time restrictions.

Maroubra Parade offers free parking with a four-hour limit, side streets are free with no time limit, and free public car parks sit next to the main beach, at Jack Vanny Reserve slightly further north, and at South Maroubra Beach. That combination makes Maroubra the easiest beach in the eastern suburbs to visit by car without opening a wallet.

The beach itself adds to the value. Maroubra is an official National Surfing Reserve with a spectacular one-kilometre stretch of sand wrapped by rocky headland, natural bushland and expansive green parks with barbecue facilities, a shaded kids’ playground, a skate park and a free outdoor gym. At the southern end, the Eastern Beaches Coastal Walkway connects through Malabar Headland National Park to Malabar Beach.

Other Free Options in the Randwick Area

Maroubra is not the only free option for eastern suburbs beachgoers. Clovelly Beach has one free car park that also services Gordon’s Bay, though it fills quickly on warm days. Malabar, Little Bay and La Perouse all currently offer free parking. Meanwhile, Coogee Beach Parking and Coogee Parking Oval charge $5.50 per hour, though free parking is available along Arden Street and surrounding streets.

Clovelly Beach currently offers free parking as well. — Clovelly Beach. *Photo Credit: Google Maps*

Further afield, Tamarama, Brighton-Le-Sands, Ramsgate, Kurnell and North Cronulla Beach all offer free parking, as does the area surrounding Cronulla more broadly.

The Northern Beaches Premium

The second most expensive beach parking in Sydney sits across the Northern Beaches, where $10 per hour applies at Manly, Freshwater, Curl Curl, North Curl Curl, Dee Why, Collaroy, Narrabeen, Mona Vale, Newport, Avalon and Palm Beach. At Balmoral Beach in Mosman, the rate sits at $8 per hour along the foreshore.

The rationale across all paid parking zones is consistent: high visitor demand, limited spaces, and the cost of maintaining foreshore infrastructure. At Coogee, 1,781 parking spaces record an average 88 per cent occupancy on summer weekends, with approximately 4,700 vehicles per day staying for an average of 203 minutes each.

Why Maroubra’s Free Parking May Not Last

Randwick City’s free beach parking could soon be history at seven popular spots including Maroubra, Clovelly, Malabar, Little Bay, La Perouse and Yarra Bay, with a community consultation period running from 4 March 2026 as part of a proposal to introduce paid visitor parking. Under the proposal, local residents would be exempt through a free annual permit system, but visitors would pay. Rates have not yet been set, though comparable Sydney beaches currently charge between $7 and $11 per hour. If approved, paid parking could be introduced in late 2026 or into 2027.

The rationale behind the proposal is financial. Maintaining Randwick’s beaches costs approximately $23.5 million per year, covering lifeguard services, beach cleaning, rubbish collection, coastal walkways, toilet facilities and surf club support. Up to 84 per cent of beach visitors in summer come from outside the Randwick area, yet local ratepayers currently fund the entire cost.

Why This Matters for Maroubra Residents

For Maroubra residents, free beach parking is both a practical daily convenience and a point of genuine local pride. The suburb’s parking advantage over neighbouring Coogee and Bondi attracts beachgoers from across the city, supporting local cafes, restaurants and businesses along Marine Parade and McKeon Street. If paid parking is introduced following the consultation, the resident permit exemption means locals would retain free access — but the broader accessibility that has made Maroubra a popular destination for Sydney families on a budget would change.

The community consultation on the paid parking proposal closes at 5pm on 15 April 2026. Residents can complete the survey online or return the paper survey mailed to every household. Drop-in sessions for questions are available at Coogee Beach Promenade on Saturday 21 March and McKeon Street Plaza, Maroubra Beach on Saturday 28 March, both from 10am to 12pm. Enquiries can be directed to 1300 722 542.

Published 9-March-2026.

Maroubra: Sydney’s Rising Real Estate Star

In the ever-changing landscape of Sydney’s real estate market, Maroubra stands out as a suburb on the rise. This beachside hotspot, nestled in Sydney’s premium Eastern Suburbs, is increasingly attracting buyers with its comparative affordability and appealing location.

Whilst its more famous neighbors, Bondi Beach and Coogee, continue to command higher prices, Maroubra offers a more accessible entry point to this desirable area.

Surge in Property Prices

Over the past five years, Maroubra has witnessed a remarkable surge in property prices. According to PropTrack data, the median house price in the suburb soared by 40 per cent from $1.96 million in October 2018 to $2.75 million in October 2023.

Although these figures are below the May 2022 peak of $2.94 million, PropTrack economist Anne Flaherty observed that Maroubra’s numbers are “recovering.”

2023: A Year of High Expectations

The year 2023 is shaping up to be a defining period for Maroubra and other Sydney suburbs like Coogee and Balmain. Experts anticipate these areas to be among the top performers in the city’s property market. Driving factors behind this growth include infrastructure developments, population increases, and overall economic progress.

Sydney’s broader housing market, particularly in the Eastern Suburbs, are also showing signs of recovery. Auction clearance rates in these areas are on the rise, indicating a resurgence in buyer interest.

The city’s North Shore is also predicted to experience growth in property values, drawing attention from buyers with larger budgets.

Maroubra’s Market Dynamics

Despite the overall positive trends, Maroubra’s property market has its complexities. A record-breaking sale in March 2023 positioned Maroubra above its neighbors Coogee and Clovelly in terms of property value.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

However, the broader housing market in Maroubra saw an 8.1 per cent decrease, highlighting the suburb’s unique market dynamics.

As Sydney continues to evolve, Maroubra stands out as a suburb of interest for both buyers and investors. Its blend of affordability, location, and growing market appeal positions it as a key player in Sydney’s property market narrative for 2023 and beyond.

Published 27-Nov-2023