Sport
4 March, 2026
Warriors face 34th Barrett Shield match
Local league heroes the Wattles Warriors have their 2026 campaign in motion, with Club Coaching Director and first grade mentor Travis Burns impressed with early season training attendances and enthusiasm.
Wattles’ longest serving coach, Burns is in the blocks to launch into the new season and guide his top graders to go one better than last year when they finished the Toowoomba Rugby League Grand Final 28 – 12 behind the reigning premiers and all-conquering Gatton Hawks.
Wily mentor Burns is playing his recruitment cards close to his chest as his season preparation unfolds, but supporters can be assured of four competitive teams in green and gold.
In what will be an historical moment, Wattles will field four teams across 2026.
Club President Amanda O’Halloran is excited about the prospect of the Warriors fielding their first ever open age women’s team.
The club’s encouraging efforts to establish a women’s side back in 2023 fell short, but the coming season boasts a competitive outfit impressing at training under experienced coach Kris Whale.
Saturday March 28th will see Platz Oval come to life for 2026 as the Warriors rumble with traditional neighbouring foes the Warwick Cowboys, the A Grade prize the Barrett Family Shield, the symbol of league supremacy on the Southern Downs.
The Cowboys have a spring in their step after the recent official opening of their new $4.5 million flood resilient clubhouse coinciding with the club’s 40th season.
They already have runs under their belts after the Gold Coast based Helensvale Hornets made their annual trek to Warwick league hub, Father Ranger Oval, last Saturday to contest pre-season trials.
It was a successful day out on the Downs for the Hornets securing wins in A Grade 28 – 6; Reserve Grade 30 – 16 with the
Under 19 match resulting in a 12 – 12 draw.
The renowned Shield was provided by the Barrett family in 1992 as a prize for the annual Warwick versus Wattles pre-season trial, with the upcoming clash the 34th contest between the two Southern Downs based Toowoomba Rugby League clubs.
Over that time Wattles have hoisted the trophy as winners on thirteen occasions, the Cowboys posting nineteen wins, with a solitary draw in 2000.
Wattles are looking to regain the coveted shield after a 34 – 16 convincing loss last year at Father Ranger Oval.
Coach Burns is impressed with his players as they gel for the coming trial.
“We have a mix of some new faces boasting ability and experience in a team structured around the Wattles top grade side that finished so strongly in last year’s TRL finals series,” Burns said.
The 2026 Toowoomba Rugby League season gets underway on the weekend of April 11th and 12th, with Wattles in action on the Sunday against the Highfields Eagles at Highfields.
CHRISTENSEN SWOOPING FOR THE MAGPIES
Former Wattles backline star Matt Christensen has built further on his exciting league career resumé of late, running on in three Hostplus Cup pre-season trials for the Brisbane based Souths–Logan Magpies.
On home turf at Davies Park in the Magpies’ initial outing, they kept the Redcliffe Dolphins honest, just nudged out of a season opening win 28 – 24.
A 58 - 22 loss to the Brisbane Broncos the following weekend was an eye opener for the talent rich Magpies, Broncos 98 game top grader Jesse Arthars starring in the contest.
Last Saturday saw the Magpies achieve their first season win dispatching Ipswich Brothers 50 – 8 with centre Christensen pocketing his debut try in black and white.
In an impressive career that started in the corridors of the Wattles Junior Rugby League Club, Matt has made every post a winner after a dream TRL top Grade debut in April 2019 against Pittsworth, the then 18-year-old scoring two tries and landing a conversion in the Wattles Warriors’ victory at Platz Oval.
The rampant try-scorer headed Brisbane way in 2022 gathering more than valuable experience through a stint with the Wynnum-Manly ‘Seagulls’ Colts.
Matt Christensen joins a talented group of former Warriors to run on in
Souths Magpies/Souths Logan Magpies colours of past seasons.
Former Wattles forward Mark Meskell, who went on the play for the Brisbane Broncos, being one, along the Gibson family members of Allora in Steve, Tony, Doug and Brett.
FORMER WARRIOR SHINING IN OLD DART
Wattles 2025 star back Connor Williams, who played in last season’s unsuccessful Toowoomba Rugby League Grand Final bid against eventual premiers Gatton, has headed to the northern hemisphere in the off season and is turning heads with English club the Egremont Rangers.
The Rangers, formed in 1900, is an amateur club from Cumbria competing in the National Conference League Division 1.
The Egremont club was delighted to announce Connor’s signing back in early December.
Connor joins the club boasting an impressive pedigree including experience in the Queensland State League competition with the Western Clydesdales.
Along with his partner Mikayla, Connor has relocated to the UK with the hope of experiencing life and rugby league in England while also ticking off some European holidays.
- Glyn Rees
