By Glynn Rees
There is no time for premiership hangovers for Wattles Rugby League Club, with club already announcing their coaching staff for the 2023 Toowoomba Rugby League season.
Just days after winning the 2022 TRL Grand Final and in the midst of celebrations, club President Amanda O’Halloran announced the return of Travis Burns.
“The club is already on the front foot when it comes to next season’s campaign,” she said.
“In perhaps the worst kept secret on the Southern Downs it has been officially confirmed premiership winning captain/coach Burns will take the wheel of the first grade in 2023.”
Since returning to Wattles in 2018, Burns has held the role of captain-coach.
In season 2023 he will be calling the shots from the bench after retiring from the on-field action.
Burns, who led his side to an emphatic win over Gatton Hawks this season, is already looking towards a top-level finish next season.
The A grade mentor will shortly undergo some ‘panel work’ after the physical trials of his 21-year senior grade career, including the broken hand that he carried throughout the finals.
“Moves regarding recruitment and retaining players for next year are already underway” said Burns,
“But for the loss of retiring stalwarts Ryan Duggan, Dale Perkins and myself we will see much the same side run out in the new year”.
Tony Morris is another that is hardly a new face around Platz Oval but next season the loyal Wattles supporter and generous sponsor will venture into the world of coaching taking the reins of the Reserve grade team.
Morris is happy to take on the role and will have almost all of the 2022 Warriors Reserve grade grand final team at his disposal.
Filling the coaching trifecta is legendary Wattles identity Cameron Hamblin who will continue to mentor the Under 19 side.
Hamblin, a first-grade premiership winner, former TRL Player of the Year, five-time Wattles Player of the Year and a member of the victorious 1996 Toowoomba Clydesdales State League side, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.
There remains one coaching vacancy.
The position for coach of the Open Women’s team set to join Wattles club next season has not yet been filled.
Interested parties are asked to contact Amanda O’Halloran on 0407 663 270.
Burns considers one of Wattles strengths across the 2022 season was the club’s depth. That was backed up with both that A grade and reserve grade teams qualifying for the 2022 grand finals.
“We have some quality emerging players that will earn their spurs in top grade, and perhaps a sprinkling of new faces,” he said.
The 2022 Wattles captain/coach will remain on an achievement high for some time. Adding to the thrill of the Grand Final win was the appearance of his former Manly Sea-Eagles NRL team-mates Chris Hicks and International forward Glen Stewart who travelled from Sydney to lend their moral support.
The Wattles hierarchy has one more big challenge remaining in 2022 and that is selecting the 2022 Clifton Courier Player of the Year from a very rich pool of talent.
Wattles will host their 2022 season Banquet and Presentation Function at Clifton’s FE Logan Hall on Saturday, 8 October.
