Sport
11 October, 2022
A season to remember
Wattles gifted half-back Matt Duggan had club stalwarts rummaging through the records in their minds at Saturday night’s Wattles Banquet and Presentation function after he was named the Warriors ‘Player of the Year’ for a record sixth time, capping off an amazing season.
Duggan has previously hoisted the Clifton Courier Shield, Wattles’ ultimate reward for player excellence in a season, in 2013, ‘14, ‘15, ‘19, ’21 and now ‘22.
He joins an impressive list of club top draw legends including Cameron Hamblin (4), Sam Achilles (3), Greg Platz (2), Michael Ryan (2) and Luke Baker (2) as multiple winners of the Shield that was introduced in 1975.
A packed F. E. Logan Hall in Clifton hosted the end of season celebration, a season that saw the A and Reserve Grade teams steam into the Toowoomba Grand Finals, the Travis Burns led
A Graders snatching the club’s fifth top grade premiership since joining the competition in 1966.
Club President Amanda O’Halloran delivered an annual report that brimmed with achievements and positivity, and outlined a sturdy foundation for the 2023 season and future ahead.
Accolades were offered freely by the President of more than three years, to players and contributors at all levels of the club that completed its 57th year.
Wattles champion on the rise Kai Williamson-Duggan was named Wattles Colt of the Year presented with the Peter Cavanagh trophy, while another budding talent in Under 19 skipper Jamie Hamilton secured the Terry Doyle Memorial Trophy as Junior Footballer of the Year.
Warriors A Grade captain/coach Travis Burns was the recipient of a special award provided by major sponsors Nick Adamson (Stillwater Pastoral Company) and Tony Morris (Tony Morris Tiling) of his framed Grand Final jersey on behalf of the Wattles club.
It was a landmark evening for Burns since his 2018 return to the Warriors den, amid the celebrations with team mates and club supporters, having landed his first senior grade premiership and his retirement as a player.
The recently appointed 2023 first grade coach received the prestigious Terry & Michael O’Halloran Memorial Trophy on Saturday evening for his loyalty and service to the Wattles club on and off the field, over the past season.
Outstanding Wattles supporters and volunteers, the Stanthorpe-based Stroud family members were recognised with the Lex Ellwood Memorial Trophy as Club Supporters of the Year.
It certainly is a family commitment from the Strouds, with club volunteer Tony and wife Tanya, their son Under 19 player Lochie with girlfriend Alessia and team mate Dylan Dunbar all heading Wattles way regularly, and joining them are Lochie’s grandparents Glen and Colleen who travel from Toowoomba.
Popular announcements on the night by MC Jason Fogarty were awards to Debbie Wilkie as Female Volunteer of the Year, and the Women in League Award to Ronnie Adamson, both staunch behind the scenes volunteers in the canteen and anywhere else they can provide assistance.
Ronnie is also Treasurer of Wattles Old Boys and Supporters Club, another string to her bow.
The announcement for Debbie was a surprise for her but certainly not for others.
“I love our Wattles family,” Debbie said.
“I love working in the canteen with a great bunch of women, and yes, I was truly shocked when my name was called.”
Wattles’ eternal volunteer for everything, Paul Duggan was announced as club Male Volunteer of the Year.
Respected player stalwart Dale Perkins closed the curtain on a decade of achievement in the Toowoomba Rugby League collecting a deserved Tom Webcke Memorial Trophy as Wattles Clubman of the Year as a lasting memento of his eight-year Wattles experience.
The Toowoomba Clydes-dales forward and former Gatton Hawks premiership winner will wind down his illustrious career back where it all began with the Stanthorpe Gremlins.
Another retiree, Ryan Duggan has closed the door on a Wattles career that began in 2013, and was presented with the Michael Fogarty Memorial Trophy Club Best Team Man recognising his many strengths as a valued club member and player.
AWARD WINNERS
Under 19
Most Improved Forward: Marley Tunstead
Most Improved Back: Braeden Cameron
Best Forward: John Lazzaroni
Best Back: Matthew Wilson
Coach’s Best Team Man: Will Denny
Player’s Player: John Lazzaroni
Vince Bermingham Memorial Trophy - Under 18 Best & Fairest: Gus Hutchinson
Reserve Grade
Most Consistent Forward: Jordan Henry
Most Consistent Back: Darby Peardon
Best Forward: Aaron Scheid
Best Back: Joe Morris
Coach’s Best Team Man: Matt Ilijas
Player’s Player: Mitchell Duff
Glass Family Trophy – Reserve Grade Best & Fairest: Mitchell Duff
A Grade
Most Consistent Forward: Conor Swinton
Most Consistent Back: Mitch Bourke
Best Forward: Jordan Crocker
Best Back: Nick Van Der Poel
Coach’s Best Team Man: Mitch Koina
Player’s Player: Matt Duggan & Jackson Green
Lew Platz Cup – First Grade Best & Fairest: Jackson Green
Perpetual Trophies
Female Volunteer of the Year: Debbie Wilkie
Women in League Award: Ronnie Adamson
Male Volunteer of the Year: Paul Duggan
Jeff Horan Memorial Trophy Junior Encouragement Award: Lachlan Stroud
Patron’s Trophy Wattles Most Serviceable Player: Zac Stevens
Tim Brady Memorial Trophy Junior Clubman: Rylan Saville
Father Brian Noonan Junior Courage: Reuben Sullivan
Mick Harrison Memorial Trophy Senior Courage: Tyson Stevens
Michael Fogarty Memorial Trophy Club Best Team Man: Ryan Duggan
Kent Muller Memorial Trophy Most Dedicated Player: Tom Morris
Tom Webcke Memorial Trophy Wattles Clubman: Dale Perkins
Geoff Slatter Memorial Trophy Highest Try Scorer: Austin Jennings
Keith ‘Poe’ Masters Memorial Trophy Representative Player of the Year: Jacob Meddleton
Lex Ellwood Memorial Trophy Supporter of the Year: The Stroud Family
Terry Doyle Memorial Junior Footballer of the Year: Jamie Hamilton
Terry & Michael O’Halloran Memorial Trophy - Loyalty & Service to the Wattles Club on and off the field: Travis Burns
Jim Gleeson Memorial Trophy – Community Club Person of the Year: Glyn Rees
Peter Cavanagh Trophy Colt of the Year: Kai Duggan
Clifton Courier Shield Wattles Warriors’ Footballer of the Year: Matt Duggan
- Glyn Rees
