Sport
14 October, 2024
Wattles Announce 2025 Coaches
Burns & Hamblin Back On Deck for New Season - Local rugby league club the Wattles Warriors may have only just closed the door on their successful 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League Season, but they have already taken a major step in preparations for 2025 with the appointment of coaches.
The appointees for what is Wattles 60th year since forming in 1966, and 59th year in the Toowoomba Rugby League, are experienced hands Travis Burns (A Grade) and Cameron Hamblin (Under 19), while new face on the coaching front Will Manley is taking the reigns of the Reserve Grade side.
After an outstanding career in the NRL and British Super League, before a pre-retirement season with State League side Wynnum-manly, Travis Burns headed back to his league beginnings on the Central Downs signing in late 2017 to captain-coach Wattles for the 2018 season, his debut coaching experience.
The 2025 season will see him as Wattles longest serving first grade coach about to embark on his eighth year at the top-grade helm.
Burns has guided his side to the finals series each year but for Covid cancelled 2020, climaxing in two Grand Final appearances, their 2022 effort resulting in Wattles club’s fifth first grade premiership.
Of course, Cameron Hamblin is another who needs little introduction to the Allora-Clifton region league community.
Hamblin is a five-time Wattles Player of the Year, and 2003 Toowoomba Rugby League Player of the Year,
He has been a familiar face on Wattles coaching bench over more than two decades in various roles, the Under 19 mentor for the past two seasons was also a former A Grade coach in 2001, 2002 & 2010.
Will Manley Joins Reserve Grade Bench - Toowoomba based building contractor Will Manley is certainly no stranger to Platz Oval, first donning the green & gold colours as an Under 18 player back in 2008, and has been a member of Wattles high achieving Reserve Grade line-up in 2023.
Aside from numerous returns to Wattles in the past 16 years, the utility player/forward Manley has also run on for single seasons with Brisbane club the Valleys Diehards and the Dalby Diehards.
The Toowoomba Grammer School old boy who served his carpentry apprenticeship with Cameron Hamblin, is coming to grips with his playing days easing to an end.
He was announced at Wattles recent Presentation Night and Banquet as the new season coach, with established Warriors playing names Aaron Scheid and Tim Hentschel as assistants.
Manley feels he has the knowledge, experience and club respect to guide the reserve grade side on a continuing journey of success.
“The new coach says he, Hentschel and Scheid are all on the same page for 2025, along with fellow team coaches, his focus maximising player opportunity and the best possible performance for all grades”.
“I consider myself a one club man given my time with Wattles, I have a lot of friends at the club, and of course like any coach, my goal is to lead my team to a Grand Final win.”
The Manley name is very familiar when it comes to rugby league in the TRL region.
Will and his four brothers Ben, Xavier, Pat & Dan have all worn the Wattles green and gold, and figured prominently in the 2013, 2014 & 2015 seasons that included two first grade premierships.
The family also have a strong link to the Dalby Diehards club, Dan the club President in recent years with brothers Pat & Xavier players.
Wattles Reboot - Wattles set their 2025 Toowoomba Rugby League season in motion at their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday October 30th at their clubhouse in Clifton.
- Glyn Rees
