Sport
16 April, 2026
Wattles home in a nail-biter
While making hard work of it the Wattles Warriors first grade side opened its 2026 Toowoomba Rugby League premiership campaign with a hard fought 32 to 26 victory over the Highfields Eagles on Sunday afternoon at the Kuhls Road Complex.
The Warriors, last season’s TRL first grade grand finalists and recent pre-season Barrett Family Shield victors, took a healthy dose of confidence into the Highfields contest, but despite the winning result, the home side Eagles kept their opponents more than honest.
Wattles trailed by two tries early in the second stanza before levelling and holding a touchdown advantage at the final hooter.
Green and gold player of the match, hard running New Zealand born back-rower Manny Tuimavave-Gerrard led the way forward for the Warriors, well supported by big brother Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard along with courageous team co-skipper Nick Van Der Poel.
A former Wynnum-Manly Seagulls player, Manny Tuimavave-Gerrard, a former New Zealand Under 18 representative who also took the field for the New Zealand Warriors and Parramatta Eels at Jersey Flegg competition level, brings abundant ability to Wattles’ pack.
Tries coming into half time by Manny Tuimavave-Gerrard and Van Der Poel lifted Wattles back into contention for the opening of the final forty minutes.
While Highfields may have been considered the underdogs heading into Sunday’s home clash, they certainly showed their worth against the Warriors and will be a force to be reckoned with across the season.
Jake Sargood was a shining light as the Eagles last line, cashing in for three valuable touchdowns putting his side in the box seat for a possible victory.
A four-pointer by the slippery fullback saw Highfields first on the scoreboard, bringing the home crowd to life.
Wattles’ bustling winger Mitch Bourke celebrated his season opening appearance with a try in the corner soon after.
The early points set a trend of a near try for try sequence that saw both teams leading at stages, but it was the Eagles that reigned across the first half.
A late in the game touchdown to rampaging front-rower Cooper Tate–Roche, along with a successful conversion by five-eighth Tom Hatch, allowed Wattles the edge required to outlast the determined Eagles in the final minutes and claim the premiership points.
Coach Travis Burns will be focusing his Wattles side on all facets of their game this week as they prepare to meet suggested competition heavyweights the Brothers Leprechauns at Toowoomba’s Glenholme Park on Sunday.
Wattles and Brothers were dogged competitors across last season, and indications are that the trend will survive into 2026.
Wattles 32 (Mitch Bourke, Manny Tuimavave-Gerrad, Nick Van Der Poel, Mason Watson, Tom Hatch, Cooper Tate-Roche tries; Tom Hatch 4 goals); Highfields 26 (Jake Sargood, Cohan Neven, Anthony Bell, Jake Sargood, Jake Sargood tries; Cory Haywood 3 goals).
RESERVE GRADE
It was a disappointing first outing loss for Wattles reserve graders losing 20-32 against Highfields after leading 14-10 at the half-time break.
Evergreen back-rower Tom Duggan shone in green and gold, as did bench utility player Caleb King.
According to coach Garth Lonergan, “It’s only game one, and we have plenty to improve on, but the boys did well on Sunday considering our injury toll in the game, and two tries being disallowed”.
Highfields 32 (Dylan Crump, Dennis Bohm, Michael Domin, Archie Spies, Kyle O’Toole, Dwayne Murray tries; Reilly Land 4 goals); Wattles 20 (Tom Duggan, Joel Monckton, Abele Alosio, Tom Morris tries; Koby Deluca 2 goals)
UNDER 19
Throughout a cracker of an Under 19 stoush Wattles managed to hold a two-point advantage across the 70 minutes of play, winning 22-20 to snatch their initial premiership points of the season.
Front-rower Tama Saxton stood tall in Wattles performance, gaining player of the match honours and voted Players’ Player.
Recent try scoring first grade debutante Paddy Denny continues his prime form at fullback, while honest toiling back-rower Paddy Fitzgerald finished with his usual impressive work rate.
Paddy is continuing a family green and gold tradition, as the son of Wattles senior club former champion forward and clubman Steve ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald.
Wattles 22 (Jack Allen, Paddy Denny, Ben Barbierato, Kuda Ackland tries; Ben Barbierato 3 goals): Highfields 20 (Charlie McMahon, Dwayne Murray, Jack Gordon, Hayden Nicholson tries; Patrick Clifford 2 goals).
This weekend sees TRL Round 2 .
On Sunday Wattles travel to Glenholme Park, Toowoomba to play Brothers in three grades.
The Under 19 match starts at 1pm followed by Reserve Grade at 2:30pm.
The A Grade fixture is scheduled for a 4pm start.
- Glyn Rees
