Sport
31 March, 2025
Warwick Cowboys claim prestigious shield over Wattles
Warwick rugby league mecca Father Ranger Oval played host to the 33rd first grade Barrett Family Shield along with Reserve grade and Under 19 pre-season trials between the Wattles Warriors and the Warwick Cowboys on Saturday, 22 March, with the home side collecting honours across the board, undefeated in all three matches.
Wattles commenced what was expected to be a cracker of an A Grade contest as holders of the Barrett Shield after success last season, but 2025 saw the coveted silverware return to the Rose City.
Giant former New Zealand prop Eteuati Tatupu posted a man of the match performance to help steer the Cowboys to a 34-16 win and secure a 19th Barrett Family Shield success.
Warwick held a promising 12-0 lead after fifteen minutes but Wattles fought back when mobile back Tyson Stevens found a wide gap in the Warwick defence to score.
The scoreboard display showed 16–10 in favour of the Cowboys at half time before they kicked ahead, the ball being fumbled in a Warriors’ error and the Cowboys scored in the
tenth minute of the second stanza.
Warwick scored again soon after from a short kick to lead 28-10 but Wattles fought back with a converted try in the 21st minute of the second half to trail 28-16.
The Cowboys final try came when they won a scrum and lightning finisher Jake Speed raced away to score in the far corner.
Wattles coach Travis Burns said he wasn’t unhappy with his team’s first performance of the season.
“We made a lot of errors and completed about thirty per cent of our sets, Warwick played well and scored some tries off our errors,” he said.
Despite not having a game this weekend, Wattles will train as they prepare for an away game against Dalby in their opening fixture round of the 2025 Toowoomba Rugby League season.
“We should have four key first graders back for the Dalby contest,” Burns said.
He named centre Connor Williams, five-eighth Dwayne Duncan and giant forward Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard off the bench as his best.
Warwick 34 (Jone Rarabalavu 2, Luke Pollard, Jake Speed, Eteuati Tatupu, Tavita Henare-Schuster tries; Tavita Henare-Schuster 4, Brandon McGrady goals) def. Wattles 16 (Mitch Bourke, Thomas Hatch, Tyson Stevens tries; Dwayne Duncan 2 goals)
Reserve Grade
Warwick’s Mick Bloomfield made a come-back to rugby league in reserve grade against Wattles, scoring a try and kicked two goals in the first fifteen minutes of play.
Bloomfield is a former Wattles junior, but has provided sterling service to the Cowboys over many seasons.
The former Warwick A grader played lock and showed he had lost none of his skill in Warwick’s 36-10 win.
The home side led 16-0 after fifteen minutes and 22-0 at half time before Wattles scored twice in the second stanza.
Warwick 36 (Dylan Riley 2, Swithen Sakiki, Jye Barrett, Michael Bloomfield, Matt Marshall, Jarred Bradfield tries, Bloomfield 3, Marshall goals) def. Wattles 10 (Warren Draper, Zac Alberts tries, Koby de Luca goal)
Penalty decision
A decision by Wattles not to take a penalty kick for goal with the score 28-22 Wattles’ way could well have cost them the Under 19 game.
Despite the match being a trial, it was a surprise Wattles went for the tap before losing the ball on the third tackle.
The young Cowboys headed down field with the ball for winger Riley Wainwright to score reducing the margin to just two points.
The successful Warwick try conversion brought about the draw.
Warwick five eighth Max Doyle, who kicked one conversion from the sideline, and Wattles centre Mason Watson claimed player of the match honours.
Wattles 28 (Jack Phelan 2, Mason Watson, Patrick Malone, Benjamin Barbierato tries: Jack Brown 2, Watson, Barbierato goals) drew with Warwick 28 (Coen Davis, Riley Wainwright, Djerome Delphin, Max Doyle, Mackenzie Quinn tries: Max Doyle 2, Reeion Jarrett 2 goals)
2025 TRL Season
Wattles commence the TRL season on Sunday, April 6th against the Diehards at Dalby.
- Glyn Rees
