Sport
19 December, 2024
Wattles Juniors Step into Historic Season
Wattles Junior Rugby League Club officials celebrated their new season meet and greet dinner with committee members and coaching staff at Allora’s Railway Hotel on December 9th, and while it closed the door on the 2024 year, it also saw the Club about to step off in to an historic 2025 season.
President Aaron Gilmore is very upbeat about what the new season holds, despite changes that see significant alterations for the Warwick and District Junior Rugby League as it celebrates its 60th year of existence.
For the coming season the Warwick and District JRL competition will cater for the Under 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12 age groups, the teams open to boys and girls, from Wattles, Warwick based Club’s Collegians and Eastern Suburbs, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi and MIT Jets (Millmerran-Inglewood-Texas).
Wattles, Collegians, Goondiwindi and Stanthorpe clubs will next season compete in the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League competition in Under 13, 14, 15 & 17 boys age groups, Under 15 Girls League Tag and Under 17 Girls Tackle.
Mr. Gilmore and his committee consider Wattles Juniors 2024 season a great success fielding teams in all competition grades, 180 player registrations, and the Under 15 Boys line-up scooping a prestigious minor premiership, before appearing unsuccessfully in the season deciding Grand Final.
Aside from Mr Gilmore, Holly Death returns to the club’s executive at secretary with newcomer Vanessa Guy Treasurer while Josh Schwenke takes on the Vice-President role and Belinda Naumann continues in the demanding registrar roll.
Rebecca Steinhardt is remaining in the integral role of referee coordinator, Allison May steps in as Uniform Co-ordinator while accomplished coach Adam May is now the club coaching coordinator
The vital role of canteen convenor is yet to be filled, while Mrs Shelley Duggan has been reappointed Patron of the junior club.
Wattles Juniors coaches for the 2025 season:
Under 6: Brandon Sauverain
Under 7: Nick Van Der Poel
Under 8: Rod Johnstone
Under 9: Josh Macpherson
Under 10: Luke Townsend
Under 11: Chris Ryan
Under 12: Josh Schwenke
Under 13: Russell McMillan
Under 14: Clayton Brady & Rylan Saville
Under 15: Lee Schwenke
Under 17: Matthew Christensen
Under 15 Girls League Tag: George Berry
Under 17 Girls Tackle: To be confirmed.
Wattles Junior RL Club registrations have commenced as of December 9th, with the club hosting an official muster sign-on day in February.
Early season commitments for the young Warriors will have them on the road in February with Under 14 and 16 teams heading to Charleville competing in the annual Adrian Vowles Cup, one of Queensland’s more highly rated junior carnivals.
Participation in the Brown Steel Walker Weekend in late March in Toowoomba is another consideration for the club committee, where Wattles Under 13 side were so impressive last year.
For inquiries regarding Wattles Junior Rugby League Club, President Aaron Gilmore can be contacted on: 0414 245 860.
Glyn Rees
