Sport
18 September, 2025
Wattles Warriors into TRL Grand Final thanks to Dwayne Duncan field goal
Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer Stadium shook with the ferocity of arguably the Toowoomba Rugby League (TRL) clash of the season on Sunday afternoon when the Wattles Warriors A Grade outfit levered the Brothers Leprechauns from the 2025 premiership race in a 29 to 28 Preliminary Final victory on the back of an extra time field goal by five-eighth sharp shooter Dwayne Duncan.
After a see-sawing game of five tries apiece where Brothers looked more in control in the early stages, despite the scoreline, the end result shunt’s Wattles into next Saturday night’s Grand Final to face up against reigning premiers the Gatton Hawks.
Recently named as the Toowoomba Rugby League Top Point Scorer for 2025, Dwayne Duncan’s kicking finesse in whatever form has provided the necessary reinforcement for Wattles’ second on the ladder finish this season, despite his recent month-long injury lay off.
While Duncan had the ball on a string keeping Wattles competitive through-out against a fiercely focused Brothers outfit, team skipper Nick Van Der Poel was in sensational form setting the example as he led his players around the historic venue.
Van Der Poel secured Player of the Match honours, highlighted by a brilliant while gutsy solo touchdown nine minutes from full time.
Early match tries by centres Wattles’ Matt Christensen and Brothers’ Jeffrey Lingwoodock saw the scoreboard locked at 6 – 6 come the twenty-minute mark, with Brothers appearing to have the edge.
Halfback Tom Hatch was on hand to score off a Dwayne Duncan bomb in the thirtieth minute allowing Wattles a 12 – 6 lead which they held until the half time break.
A Hatch penalty goal ten minutes into the new half saw Wattles ease to a 14 – 6 lead in a game where torrid defence was the norm.
Indeed, it was Wattles’ second stanza defence that laid a foundation for their eventual success, a task more challenging when reduced to twelve with the loss of interchange forward Alex Donn to the sin bin.
Crucial four-pointers by three-quarter Harry Eyers and five-eighth Sam Betros saw Brothers storm back into contention leading 18 – 14 thanks to the efforts of outstanding play-maker Cory McGrady.
Brothers were midst that second half surge when Wattles rallied, running in a hat trick of tries in as many minutes.
Van Der Poel took a looping Tom Hatch pass twenty metres out and navigated a weaving path through traffic to the try line.
Wattles added further second stanza points through a Dwayne Duncan penalty goal and touchdowns by second-rower Jackson Shelswell and a second to Tom Hatch in quick succession to lead 28 – 18 with six minutes remaining on the game clock.
Brothers were far from done though as the game withered down to the final minutes and tries by hooker Hayden Ensbey from dummy half and a second to Eyers stoked the contest for a classic finish with four minutes remaining.
Extra time was needed to decide the Gatton Hawks’ Grand Final opponents for this Saturday, the scoreboard locked at 28 – 28 at full time.
The magic moment arrived in the 85th minute after a Van Der Poel charge took play twenty metres out from the Brothers’ try line in front of the right goalpost upright, and Duncan set himself for a field goal attempt.
Dummy half Jack Duggan passed left to the waiting Duncan who, in traffic, nonchalantly hoisted the ball over the crossbar with his right boot, only to be claimed by the mass enthusiasm of celebrating team mates.
Aside from Van Der Poel, Duncan and halfback dynamo Tommy Hatch, winger Will Jackson, fullback Alex Hinch and utility player Daniel Jennings all shone among Wattles contingent of gallant performers.
Coach Travis Burns commented on how proud he was “for his players” after a result that could easily have gone either way.
Burns has inspired his troops through mighty finals battles of late resulting in a convincing 36 – 16 win over Brothers and then a clash of the Titans 38 - 16 Major Semi-Final loss to premiership favourites Gatton.
He will be steering his best seventeen through this coming week, some bruised and battered after Sunday, but ready and raring to claim a sixth A Grade premiership cup for the Platz Oval trophy cabinet.
Wattles 29 (Tom Hatch 2, Matt Christensen, Nick Van Der Poel, Jackson Shelswell tries; Tom Hatch 2, Dwayne Duncan 2 goals; Dwayne Duncan field goal) defeated Brothers 28 (Harry Eyers 2, Jeffrey Lingwoodock, Nick Carrie, Sam Betros tries; Sam Betros 4 goals)
In the Reserve Grade Preliminary Final Valleys 26 defeated Dalby 24.
The Under 19 Preliminary Final saw Valleys defeat Brothers 32 to 20.
The A Grade grand final kicks off at 6.30 Saturday night at Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba.
- Glyn Rees
