Sport
28 January, 2025
Wattles off and running
The Wattles Warriors Rugby League Club stepped into its 60th year of rugby league last Thursday evening at Platz Oval when the Club launched its 2025 pre-season training campaign to raise the curtain on its commitment in the 106th Toowoomba Rugby League season.
Coaching Director Travis Burns was encouraged with the player roll up to commence preparations for the coming challenge for honours across the A Grade, Reserve Grade and Under 19 premiership competitions.
“We couldn’t be happier with numbers at this stage of the season,” Burns said, “but prospective players considering a season with an outstanding club playing the great game are encouraged to attend training and sign-on.”
There are quite a few new faces donning the green and gold, including young talents Tom Ramsay and cousin Ben Sheppard.
Tom is the son of Wattles’ former outstanding top grader and A Grade premiership winner Vince
Ramsay, a former Queensland Country and Queensland Residents representative.
The 2025 Winter season is promising to be a year of highlights for the Wattles club that will include flicking the switch on the new state of the art $450.000 Platz Oval LED lighting upgrade, constructed by T2 Electrical & Data.
The project has seen funding sourced from many avenues including State and local government along with Wattles senior and junior clubs.
Coaches Travis Burns (A Grade), Will Manley (Reserve Grade) and Cameron Hamblin (Under 19) are well focused on team preparations for the coming season and another trifecta of finals series appearances as was the case last year.
Of course, the ultimate goals are Grand Final day appearances at the Toowoomba Sports Ground and adding to Wattles premiership achievements.
Training will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 6pm at Platz Oval at the Clifton Recreation Grounds.
However, club President Amanda O’Halloran is impressing on players they must be registered before they commence training for insurance purposes as per Queensland Rugby League requirements.
“We are requesting players attend training early so as to register, with assistance available to all wishing to sign on for the new season,” she said.
The coming TRL 18 Round fixture premiership will also see the South Burnett Eagles run on in the Under 19 competition and the continuance of the very successful Open Women’s grade.
Historic Trophy Returns
A popular decision with TRL competing clubs is the return of the mid-season Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy clash as a stand-alone game in 2025, thus reigniting a lengthy tradition.
The historic award contested by the mid-season A Grade competition leaders that had taken place since 1980 was removed from last season’s program.
The prestigious trophy, won by the Wattles Warriors on five occasions, is named in honour of two rugby league legends in Mick Madsen and Elton Rasmussen.
Both plied their league trade not only on the great stages of the world wearing their nation and state’s colours, but two players who also contributed with significance to league in the Toowoomba and Darling Downs area.
Elton Rasmussen passed away prematurely in late 1978 aged just 42,.
He had been enlisted to coach the Wattles A Grade side for the 1979 season.
Kick-Off
That tremendous rugby league tradition the Barrett Family Shield, the reward for the annual pre-season trials Southern Downs supremacy, will be hosted at Father Ranger Oval in March as a classic season opener.
While the new season TRL draw is still being finalised, Wattles teams will run on in their initial official 2025 season fixtures in April.
Inquiries regarding the Wattles Warriors should be directed to President Amanda O’Halloran on
0407 663 270.
- Glyn Rees
