By Casey OÇonnor and Glyn Rees
The waiting game is almost over for the Wattle Warriors Toowoomba Rugby League Grand final teams with their opponents now confirmed for this weekend’s big weekend in Toowoomba at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchinson Builders A grade Grand final will be a repeat of the major semi-final with the Wattles playing minor premiers the Gatton Hawks, while the reserve grade grand final will be a battle between Wattles and the Highfield Eagles.
Wattles Rugby League Club supporters have been busy researching the last time the club’s first and reserve grade teams played TRL Grand Finals on the same day. The record books have been getting a workout.
It appears that the last time Wattles fielded A Grade and reserve grade teams on a TRL Grand Final day was back in 1979.
Unfortunately, the news was not good – both sides were defeated, and the 2022 sides will be hoping for more success on Sunday.
Both teams have enjoyed a weekend off securing their place in the grand final with wins in the major semi-final games.
For the A grade side, it will be a case of shake and reset as they prepare to face the minor premier Gatton Hawks after accounting for the 38 – 22 just over a week ago.
The Garth Lonergan/Nick Morris mentored reserve graders snatched a nail biting 20 – 18 win over Gatton in their major semi-final.
They now prepare to take on Highfields who scored a comprehensive 40-4 win last weekend over Gatton.
It was hard to fault any player in the Highfields line up and this should be an outstanding game.
There is plenty of discussion around the subject of Wattles’ first grade captain/coach Travis his career with a premiership.
The 38-year-old former NRL star is aware of the challenges of the eighty minutes of football which remain.
Burns began his career in his hometown Texas and a premiership would be a fitting end to a playing career that has seen him play 218 fist class games for during his career.
He played for NRL clubs manly Sea Eagles, NQ cowboys and Penrith panthers before moving the United Kingdom Super league where he played for Hull Kingston rovers St Helens and Leigh Centurions.
Burns returned from the UK in 2016, taking the helm at Wattles after playing a season with state league side Wynnum-Manly in 2017. Allora was where he made his A Grade debut as an aspiring 18-year-old.
In 2018 he took the Warriors to the TRL grand final, where they lost 24-22 on the full-time hooter to the Valleys Roosters.
Burns’ Wattles halves partner Matt Duggan, who has been in outstanding form in the Warriors run to the Grand Final, has experienced the TRL Grand Final glory on five occasions, including wins in 2014 and 2015 with Wattles.
Of the current Warriors A grade players Jackson Green, Mitch Koina and Ryan Duggan were also members of Wattles most recent (2015) premiership successes.
Back-rower Conor Swinton was in the Wattles 2014 premiership winning side. Warriors stalwart Dale Perkins has also tasted success as a member of the premiership winning Gatton Hawks team in 2013.
Nick Nickel Van Der Poel, is another who has tasted grand final success but not with Wattles. His Grand final win came with Townsville’s Brothers in 2017 where he played in the both the Under 20 and A Grade team victories.
Wattles Warriors have a team who should feel at home under the grand final conditions.
Wattles club president Amanda O’Halloran is expecting the community of Allora, Clifton and the Central Downs to have swathed the area in a sea of green and gold in support of their club across the coming week.
Toowoomba Rugby League Grand Finals:
Sunday 18 September.
Under 19 9.45am Gatton v Highfields
Women 11.30am Gatton v Newtown
Reserve 1.15pm Wattles v Highfields
A Grade 3pm Wattles v Gatton
Wattles Grand Final squads: First Grade – 1. Jackson Green,
2. Matt Christensen, 3. Austin Jennings, 4. Nick Van Der Poel,
5. Mitch Bourke, 6. Travis Burns C, 7. Matt Duggan, 8. Mitch
Koina, 9. Kai Williamson-Duggan. 10. Jordan Crocker, 11.
Tyson Stevens, 12. Ryan Duggan, 13. Dale Perkins, 14. Ryan
Stevens, 15. Brendon McBryde, 16. Conor Swinton, 17.
Michael Pearson, 18. Les Hartvigsen, 19. Aaron Hooper. (Two
to be omitted) Coach: Travis Burns.
Reserve grade – 1. Josh Henry, 2. Alex Morris, 3. Lachlan
Henry, 4. Darby Peardon, 5. Aaron Hooper, 6. Joe Morris, 7.
Tom Morris, 8. Jordan Henry, 9. Jack Duggan, 10. Mitch Duff,
11. Garth Lonergan ©, 12. Tim Duggan, 13. Nick Morris C,
14. Mat Ilijas, 15. Tim Hentschel, 16. Les Hartvigsen, 17.
Aaron Scheid, 18. Tom Henry, 19. Dale McAntee, 20. Zac
Stevens. Coaches: Garth Lonergan and Nick Morris.
