Sport
20 February, 2025
Wattles Juniors Heading Westward Ho
A Wattles juniors wagon train will transport near forty players and officials to Charleville late this week for their Under 14 and 16 teams to compete in blue ribbon junior rugby league carnival that is the 12th Annual Adrian Vowles Cup on Friday & Saturday 21st and 22nd of February, along with a hefty band of parents and supporters.
Club President Aaron Gilmore will lead the advance with the Kokoda caravan packed with wife Jodie, family and footy gear for the campaign ahead.
Aaron considers the Carnival an “ideal step off for the 2025 season, and a tremendous opportunity for the young Warriors matching skills against young players from around Queensland”.
This season will see Wattles players involved in their third Vowles Cup, with young Warriors Henry McMillan and Jack Burton excelling as members of a Warwick Collegians Dragons team in 2023, and a Glen McMillan coached Wattles Under 14 line-up making the trek last year, finishing undefeated to secure third placing in the talent rich Under 14 competition.
Pre-Season Kick Off - Wattles juniors will barely be home when their feet hit the ground in preparation for the coming season.
The 2025 pre-season kicks off on March 8th with trials to be confirmed against the Stanthorpe Gremlins at their home Granite Belt base of Crisp and Sullivan Ovals.
Clifton’s Platz Oval will see it’s initial rugby league on March 29th with the local juniors matching wits against the Gatton junior Hawks.
Sign-On - Wattles official 2025 season registration day will take place on home turf Platz Oval at the Clifton Recreation Grounds on Thursday February 27th from 4 – 5.30 pm.
Players are invited to fill teams in Under 6 – 17 boys; Under 6 – 12 boys/girls, Under 15 girls league tag and Under 17 girls’ tackle.
President Aaron said the club committee are particularly keen to hear from girls aged 16-17 interested in being part of a Wattles Tackle team to compete in the Toowoomba JRL competition.
The sign-on will also see the opportunity to meet team coaches, enjoy a sausage sizzle and take advantage of the operating club uniform shop.
Season Under Way - The 2025 season will see history making changes for Wattles Junior Rugby League Club, and all the teams that have been competing in the Warwick & District Junior Rugby League over past decades.
In what is the 60th season of the Warwick & District JRL, teams aged from Under 6 to Under 12 along with Girls League tag will compete as they have done in previous years against clubs from Warwick’s Collegians & Eastern Suburbs, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi and MIT Jets (Millmerran-Inglewood-Texas), with Tenterfield no longer in the league.
Teams from Under 13 to Under 17 Boys will join the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League opposing teams from Highfields, Stanthorpe, Oakey-Goondiwindi, Newtown-Collegians, South Burnett, Toowoomba Valleys, Pittsworth, Gatton, Toowoomba Southern Suburbs, Dalby & Toowoomba Brothers.
Wattles Juniors kick-off their 2025 season proper with fixtures against the Highfields Eagles (Under 13-17 boys) and MIT Jets (Under 6 – 12 & Girls League Tag) at Platz Oval.
Inquiries regarding Wattles Juniors and upcoming commitments can be directed to Club President Aaron Gilmore on 0414 245 860.
Glyn Rees
