Sport
9 October, 2025
Wattles Banquet and Presentation Evening
The Wattles Rugby League Football Club celebrated a very successful 2025 season at the Allora Community Hall on Friday, 26 September with a packed attendance of club members and supporters seated to enjoy celebrating award presentations and club achievements.
Club President Amanda O’Halloran welcomed all in the packed hall including Wattles players, coaches, sponsors, Life Members and supporters to celebrate the conclusion of the 2025 season and mark the curtain falling on the 60th year of the Wattles Rugby League Football Club.
“The year has brought many wonderful achieve-ments; most notably our A Grade side reaching the TRL Grand Final and the installation of new lights at the Clifton Recreation Grounds,” she said.
Ms O’Halloran proudly highlighted a season of strong results across all grades: “We congratulate our players and coaching officials on another successful season.”
Travis Burns’ Wattles A Grade achievers finished second on the ladder and went on to contest the 106th TRL Grand Final, while the Will Manley coached Reserve Grade team finished fourth and reached the opening round of semi-finals.
The promising Under 19 line-up finished seventh and displayed great resilience throughout the year to beat a number of teams above them on the ladder.
Wattles club tasted success at the recent Toowoomba Rugby League Presentation Function with awards to players three-quarter Matthew Christensen – Top A Grade Try Scorer (20) and named in the TRL Team of the Year; five-eighth Dwayne Duncan – Most A Grade Fixture Points Scored (149 - A Grade) and back-rower Jackson Shelswell – named in the TRL Team of the Year.
Wattles Club Sponsorship Officer/Fundraising Coordinator Mrs Dorothy Christensen was Wattles very worthy nomination for TRL Volunteer of the Year.
The Allora Community Hall stage featured a display of exquisite silverware, with well-earned awards presented to Wattles players from the three grades along with recognition of club dedicated volunteers.
Three of those loyal volunteers in Dan Duggan, Cameron Hamblin and Paul Duggan were awarded Life Membership of the Wattles Rugby League Football Club in recognition of outstanding contributions over decades.
The evening also saw a tribute presented in honour of recently passed Wattles Life Member, former Club President and Patron Mr Peter Glass followed by a minute’s silence.
- Glyn Rees
AWARD WINNERS
Under 19
Most Improved Forward, Paddy Fitzgerald
Most Improved Back, Jack Phelan
Best Forward,Bryce Stewart
Best Back, Patrick Malone
Coach’s Best Team Man, Hamish Gartery
Player’s Player, Tom Fenwick
Vince Bermingham Memorial Trophy Best and Fairest, Sebastian Hepner
Reserve Grade
Most Consistent Forward, Tom Duggan
Most Consistent Back, Aaron Mitchell
Best Forward, Marley Tunstead
Best Back, Tom Morris
Coach’s Best Team Man, Dion Willett
Player’s Player, Jake Meddleton
Glass Family Trophy, Reserve Grade Best and Fairest, Jake Meddleton
A Grade
Most Consistent Forward, Jackson Shelswell
Most Consistent Back, Mitch Bourke
Best Forward, Domenic Whittingham
Best Back, Matthew Christensen
Coach’s Best Team Man, Tyson Stevens
Player’s Player, Alex Donn
Lew Platz Cup, A Grade Best and Fairest, Nick Van Der Poel
Volunteer Awards
Women in League Award, Dorothy Christensen
Female Volunteer of the Year, Debbie Meddleton
Male Volunteer of the Year, Paul Duggan
Perpetual Trophies
Jeff Horan Memorial Trophy, Junior Encouragement Award, Harry Marshall
Patron’s Trophy, Most Serviceable Player, Jack Duggan
Tim Brady Memorial Trophy, Junior Club Man of the Year, Sunnie Tunstead
Father Brian Noonan Trophy, Junior Courage Award, Graham Hopper
Mick Harrison Memorial Trophy, Senior Courage Award, Dan Taber
Michael Fogarty Memorial Trophy, Best Team Man, Austin Jennings
Kent Muller Memorial Trophy, Most Dedicated Player, Cooper Tate-Roche
Tom Webcke Memorial Trophy, Club Man of the Year, John Lazzaroni
Geoff Slatter Memorial Trophy, Highest Try Scorer over all Grades, with 20 tries, Matthew Christensen
Keith ‘Poe’ Masters Memorial Trophy, Representative Player of the Year, Matthew Christensen
Lex Ellwood Memorial Trophy, Supporter of the Year, John Meddleton
Terry Doyle Memorial Trophy for the Junior Footballer of the Year, Tom Fenwick
Terry & Michael O’Halloran Memorial Trophy recognising Loyalty & Service to the Wattles Club on and off the Field, Ty Gardner
Jim Gleeson Memorial Trophy, Community Club Person of the Year, Lee Schwenke
Peter Cavanagh Trophy ‘Colt of the Year’ – Mason Watson
Clifton Courier Shield, Wattles 2024 Footballer of the Year, Tom Hatch
