Rugby League

After 58 years of participating in all aspects of Warwick and District Rugby League Peter Cavanagh is officially winding up his formal involvement in the game. Cavanagh had been there since day dot, coming through the grades as a player and referee, before spending his time in coaching and administration, enjoying 30 years as chairman.

Glyn Rees. Wattles Junior Rugby League Club officials celebrated their new season meet and greet dinner with committee members and coaching staff at Allora’s Railway Hotel on December 9th, and while it closed the door on the 2024 year, it also saw the Club about to step off in to an historic 2025 season.

For the seventh time, talented rugby league player Matt Duggan has been awarded The Clifton Courier Shield as the Wattles Warriors Footballer of the Year. Duggan set a new club record when he took out the title in 2022 for the sixth time - now he’s gone one better.

Glyn Rees. As many will be aware on Tuesday last week, so very sadly the Wattles fraternity, senior and junior, lost one of their great stalwarts in Mr Jack Duggan. It will certainly be an adjustment for all who frequent Platz Oval at game time, senior and junior, to now see a vacant chair near the gateway aside the announcing box, a chair that in recent years has seen Jack, beside wife Shelley, as near permanent viewers of the achievements of all those on field in green and gold.

Hay Magpies won Sunday’s Group 20 women’s tackle grand final, to secure their place in history as the first premiership team of the competition, and the first women’s tackle team from Hay to win a cup. After losing to Tullibidgeal Lakes United (TLU) Sharks in the first week of the finals, Hay caused an upset in the semis, beating Griffith Black and Whites to book the grand final berth.

Glyn Rees. The 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League season curtain fell for the Wattles Warriors reserve grade team in Sunday’s Preliminary Final after finishing behind the Valleys Roosters 28 – 10 at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer Stadium. The grinding game was anyone’s at halftime, before Valleys found a few extra legs ...

Glyn Rees. The Warwick Cowboys crack outfit were a class above opponents the ‘Farm Spray’ Wattles Warriors in Sunday’s local derby reserve grade major semi-final at Gatton’s Cahill Park, skidding in to fulltime 38 – 4 winners and booking a birth in the 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League Grand Final at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer Stadium on September 14th.

Coach Bill Gorringe couldn’t be happier and prouder as he witnessed an amazing match display by ‘The Club Hotel – Clifton’ Wattles Under 18 girls’ squad, "they played a smashing game defeating Collegians in Warwick territory".

The Allora Regional Sports Museum held another one of their popular Long Lunches at the Commercial Hotel on Friday. Queensland State of Origin Legends Shane Webcke, Trevor (the Axe) Gillmeister and Ben Ikin entertained the crowd with plenty of good football yarns including the many tricks played by Alfie Langer on his mates.

A very cold morning welcomed supporters to the Narrandera Sportsground for the sixth Proten Cup Grand Final. Narrandera had set up a big day, with their Under 16s team playing before Yanco games during the year ... The wind was still blowing cold at the start of the men's game as the Lizards and Dragons ran out ...

Glyn Rees. An imposing up front performance by back row enforcer Tyson Stevens and a blistering right side try hat trick by wing flyer Joe Willett were among the highlights on a cool and breezy Saturday night at Clifton’s Platz Oval in the ‘Stillwater Pastoral Company’ Wattles Warriors 62 – 12 dismantling of the Brothers Leprechauns.

Hay Magpies rugby league first grade squad played a gruelling match under lights against Griffith Black & Whites on Saturday night, posting the team’s first win for the Group 20 2024 season. Coach Ben Taylor directed the team in the grinding game, in wet and slippery conditions at Hay Park, and it was his goal kicking the difference, but was humble in his post-game wrap up.

It was a clean sweep at Hay Park on Sunday, when Hay Magpies hosted Yanco Hawks for round nine of the Group 20 rugby league competition. Yanco has struggled for numbers this season, and after round five, successfully petitioned to be allowed to drop back into reserve grade.

Glynn Rees. Local league heroes the Stillwater Pastoral Company’s Wattles Warriors A Grade side eased to a 62 – 6 one sided victory over the Newtown Lions ... The vital win came on the back of another tradesman like performance by skipper Nick Van Der Poel against the injury racked Newtown Lions, Wattles running in eleven touchdowns ... Wattles’ brothers duo Jacob & Isaac Leach ran on against the Newtown Lions ...

Kimberly Grabham. Our homegrown superstar Rachael (Rat) Pearson exhibited a standout performance in the first of three State of Origin games. Her kicks were 100 per cent, with Rachael kicking five goals. Her play was described as game-changing.

Yenda Blueheelers first grade side ran away in the second half to cap off a tough day for Hay Magpies at Hay Park on Sunday. The visitors defeated Hay in all four grades.

Any rugby league reserve grade side that boasts the return of talented players such as Moe Clune and Brad Pocock was always going to be hard to beat, and the Hay Magpies side put on a show for home ground fans ... The league tag game started off the action on Sunday ... Many players were on debut including Wendy Gonevulavula who quickly became a crowd favourite ...

Glyn Rees. Steady mizzling rain never muddied the Wattles Warriors challenge for the silverware honours of the 32nd Barrett Family Shield against the Warwick Cowboys at Clifton’s Platz Oval on Saturday evening, pulling up convincing 22 – 12 victors.

Hay Magpies Rugby League Club made a mark on the long history of the sport in Hay, when the first Magpies woman’s league side took to the field in Young. The side has been bolstered by solid recruiting by the club and despite most players playing their first competition game of the contact sport coach Jessie Carter was pleased with the showing.

Glyn Rees. Far South West Queensland came to life last Friday & Saturday, with the much-anticipated junior rugby league Adrian Vowles Cup under way at the Charleville Showgrounds. The Carnival is named after Cunnamulla born local legend and 1994 Maroons State of Origin representative Adrian Vowles.

Women's rugby league is charging downfield in Australia, attracting packed stands and igniting excitement across the nation. Leagues like the NRLW and state-based competitions are witnessing a surge in attendance, proving the doubters wrong and demonstrating the sport's undeniable appeal.