Sport
8 November, 2022
Wattles Reform and In Gear for 2023
It may well be early days across the Toowoomba Rugby League region but local heroes the Wattles Warriors are steaming towards another season of positive events.
League faithful across the Central Downs are still celebrating the club’s 2022 success which included an A Grade premiership win and a Reserve Grade Grand Final appearance.
Wattles convened their well-attended Annual Meeting to appoint the committee to guide their 58th season at their Platz Oval Clubhouse on October 26th.
Amanda O’Halloran was returned as club President, continuing since first appointed in 2019.
Tony Morris and Janeen Maguire are Vice-Presidents with Cathy Morris continuing as Treasurer.
Well entrenched Wattles supporter Emily Henry stepped into the vacant Secretary roll.
Long serving Wattles stalwart Jack Duggan will continue as club Patron.
WATTLES LADIES TO RUN ON IN NEW SEASON - The Wattles Club break new ground in the coming season with the introduction of a women’s team on their playing roster.
As President Amanda O’Halloran remarks, “to have a women’s team on our match day program has been on our wish list for quite some seasons, and it is tremendous that now it’s happening.”
“We have had significant interest shown by prospect-ive players based locally and further afield, and we have recently appointed a well credentialed coach in Jade Parkinson.”
It’s quite an historic occasion for the Wattles club to have a women’s team join their ranks, adding further to the organisation’s achievements over a 58-year history.
Parkinson comes with an impressive resume coaching and achieving in junior rugby league circles with Toowoomba’s Valleys, Pittsworth and also Zone 4 representative league.
Additionally, he’s had involvement in Toowoomba Clydesdales junior grade teams and programs.
Wattles newest team mentor can also claim expertise in the sport of boxing, a former State coach who has had National and State champions under his wing.
There’s still much to be done before the Wattles ladies line up to run on in 2023.
While Parkinson’s pri-mary focus currently is establishing numbers, “skills and drills and honing up the girl’s ability in relation to contact rugby league will be first and foremost.”
The building of the team will see many prospective players come from various rugby league backgrounds, some having played the contact tackle game, some involved in league tag.
Early mail indicates a widely spread interest by young woman to don the Wattles green and gold, which is more than encouraging for coach and club.
Parkinson will join Cameron Hamblin (Under 19), Tony Morris (Reserve Grade) and Travis Burns (A Grade) on Wattles new season coaching bench, Burns also the club Coaching Director.
The Parkinson family’s arrival at Platz Oval will be a family affair with Jade’s daughter Hannah Parkinson, who has Toowoomba Clydesdales experience, also running on for Wattles in the new year.
The Wattles Warrioress campaign isn’t wasting any time, hosting an information evening and gathering for players to meet team and club officials at 7 pm this evening, Wednesday, November 9th at Platz Oval.
- Glyn Rees
