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Sport

11 January, 2024

Matt Duggan returns to Wattles

Two names very familiar to Wattles Warriors fans, Travis Burns and Matt Duggan, will be key parts of the green and gold army with their eyes set on claiming Toowoomba Rugby League (TRL) silverware this upcoming season.


Three time Wattles first grade premiership winning halfback Matt Duggan returns to the cherished green and gold this season after spending 2023 with the Hostplus Cup Western Clydesdales.
Three time Wattles first grade premiership winning halfback Matt Duggan returns to the cherished green and gold this season after spending 2023 with the Hostplus Cup Western Clydesdales.

Recently re-appointed Wattles Warriors Rugby League Club coach Travis Burns is very enthusiastic about his first-grade team’s 2024 season which gets underway with the club’s initial training session at Clifton’s Platz Oval next Tuesday, 16 January.

The seasoned mentor and former NRL star is stepping into his seventh season as Wattles top grade coach, and feels confident his team of last season will reunite for the coming challenge.

A significant bonus for Burns and his line-up is the return of brilliant half Matt Duggan to the green and gold fold after opting to play last season with the Toowoomba-based Western Clydesdales in the state wide Hostplus Cup.

Duggan first ventured Wattles way over a decade back in 2013 after tasting grand final success with Valleys Roosters, going on to become an integral cog in the Warriors’ A Grade side’s twin premiership wins in 2014 and 2015.

A multiple Wattles Club and TRL player of the year, the former Queensland Rangers half-back excelled as the playmaker in the Warriors’ most recent premiership success in 2022.

Duggan’s experience and gifted ability will add volumes to Wattles’ attacking firepower for the coming season.

Coach Burns is also upbeat about the return of many of last season’s achievers. 

“We’ll certainly look impressive on the team sheet, and outstanding new season signed players of the calibre of team skipper Ty Gardner, Nick Van Der Poel, Matthew Christensen and Jake Meddleton among others will be among those firmly within our performance core for the coming season,” he said

The Barrett Family Shield will see Platz Oval come to life on Saturday March 2nd, for the 22nd contest for the prestigious silverware against traditional foes the Warwick Cowboys. 

The Cowboys rose to the occasion last year at Father Ranger Oval to overwhelm the Wattles Warriors top grade outfit and fierce weather conditions to drive home a 16 - 4 Shield win in front of a very supportive home crowd.

The Warriors’ pre-season trials program will also see them take on the Pittsworth Danes in a single senior grade local derby in mid-February, before they run on against the Oakey Bears in their initial 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League fixture round.

Along with Travis Burns, Wattles’ new season coaching staff includes Tony Morris (Reserve Grade) and Cameron Hamblin (Under 19).\t

 \t- Glyn Rees

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