In front of a packed F.E. Logan Hall at Clifton on Saturday night Wattles Warriors captain Ty Gardner joined the list of club ultimate achievers when he was presented with the prestigious Clifton Courier Shield as player of the year for the 2023 season.
After missing last season due to knee surgery, Gardner kick started his career this season entrusted with the first-grade team captaincy, and led his team to the Toowoomba Rugby League finals series.
The former Toowoomba Clydesdales back-rower was in superb form across the 2023 campaign and was always a leading contender for Wattles ultimate player award.
The Clifton Courier Shield was first presented in 1975, with Gardner now the 49th recipient, after dual winners in 1978 and 2011 and the cancelled 2020 Covid affected season.
Gardner is a familiar face around the Allora/Clifton and Central Downs area with his successful business Ty Gardner Concreting.
Despite being a regular in Toowoomba Clydesdales representative colours from 2018 to 2021, the 27 year old Gardner was a late starter in the game, a mature 19 when he fi rst ran on in a rugby league match, and after a stint with the Warwick Cowboys joined Wattles in 2017 under then coach Gary Lawrence.
In his acceptance speech the team captain offered high praise to coach Travis Burns, coaching staff, his team mates and the club over all, and was focused on ‘getting the job done’ in 2024.
In a number of speeches on the night, coach Travis Burns rated Gardner’s year as exceptional after missing last year and the 2022 premiership win.
This article appeared in the Allora Advertiser, 18 October 2023.
