Sport
22 March, 2023
Wattles Aim Up for 31st Barrett Shield Clash
Local senior grade rugby league gets underway this Saturday evening when the Wattles Warriors club side’s head south to Warwick league headquarters Father Ranger Oval to take on the Warwick Cowboys in the two Southern Downs club’s traditional season opener.
Rugby league will certainly be the winner when the oval ball action kicks off ushering in the 2023 and 104th Toowoomba Rugby League season with the 31st contest for the famed Barrett Family Shield trials.
As has been the case since 1993 the Wattles Warriors will battle out the A Grade clash against league neighbours the Warwick Cowboys for the right to house the prestigious pre-season trophy for the coming year.
Any win’s a good win according to Wattles recently appointed top grade skipper Ty Gardner, especially against Warwick and in the season opener.
“They are always a tough unit to roll, our local derbies breed a fierce competitive atmosphere.”
Wattles hoisted the Shield as victors in March last year in a success that led to the club’s fifth A Grade premiership win come September.
Wattles coach Travis Burns has welcomed highly rated former Highfields Eagles forwards Jacob Leach and Jacob Mouatt.
“Both Jacobs have been training with us for a few weeks now, only recently gaining clearances to head Wattles way officially,” said an enthusiastic Burns.
“They are experienced players at first grade level and have been a driving force in the Eagles top five campaigns of recent years.”
He feels Wattles pack will be a dominant force across the coming TRL season, with Leach and Mouatt joining forces with the likes of last season’s forward pack enforcers Brendon McBryde and Jordan Crocker.
Let’s not forget the return of skipper Ty Gardner to the pack after a year long injury absence, and toughness of the Stevens trio of Tyson, Ryan & Zac and size and mobility of Mitch Duff.
The premiership winning coach is confident he has the necessary forward depth, a depth that played a significant role in last year’s premiership success.
It will be the beginning of a new era for Wattles top side when they run out against Warwick with a new halves combination in five-eight Tom Morris and halfback Brayden Paix.
Programs have been listing the green and gold halves as Matt Duggan and Burns for the past five years, and what a combination they were.
The Wattles brains trust still have some gaps to fill in their top shelf side, with a couple of three-quarter jerseys and the fullback role to be confirmed.
They are more than fortunate to have speed machine Austin Jennings and former Queensland Country representative Nick Van Der Poel as a class act in the centres.
“We’re fortunate to have a bank of capable players in the senior grades, A & Reserve” said Burns as he don’s his thinking cap so as to name a side for the all-important Shield clash.
Oddly enough of the first-grade squad of twenty who brought the Barrett Shield back to Platz Oval this time last year, only ten players are likely to play on Saturday given departures and retirements in the off season.
Barrett Family Shield and Pre-Season Trials - Father Ranger Oval, Saturday 25th March 2023. Warwick Cowboys v Wattles Warriors
Under 19 - 3.30 pm
Reserve Grade - 5.00 pm
A Grade - 6.30 pm
- Glyn Rees
