The Coogee Randwick Wombats, a grassroots rugby league club representing Coogee and 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.
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 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 carry Coogee’s name on the world stage and draw their identity from the suburb’s tight-knit coastal community. The club trains and plays its home games at Marcellin Fields, Maroubra, and is sustained by 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 community 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 Coogee and Randwick 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.
