Sport
24 March, 2022
Wattles Under 7 Side With Coach Shadai
Earlier this year Shadai Daley would likely not have believed you if it was suggested she would be coaching a rugby league team across 2022, but as things happen the 27 year old Clifton based married mother of two is doing just that, and loving it.
When coaches were initially announced Wattles for the new season the youngest performers were without a mentor, until a recommendation was suggested by Club President Jason Fogarty.
“Shadai has certainly hit the ground running at Wattles” according to Fogarty, “a very motivated volunteer who has achieved all required qualifications and has her team’s enjoyment at heart.”
For the devoted coach it’s all about having a go, enjoyment, learning skills and building friendships for her Under 7/8 squad.
The young Warriors had a challenging line up of pre-season trials planned to ease them in to the 57th season of the Warwick & District Junior Rugby League, but wet weather put paid to the initial round of hurdles against the neighbouring Pittsworth Danes.
However it all got real for Under 7/8 head coach Shadai last weekend when Wattles joined Brisbane outfit the Redlands Parrots, Tenterfield Tigers and hosts the Stanthorpe Gremlins at Sullivan Oval for the annual Redlands4Stanthorpe Junior Rugby League Carnival.
The Carnival has become firmly entrenched in the southern Downs junior league calendar, emerging as a drought support event and fundraiser for the Stanthorpe community back in 2020.
Wattles suffered losses in the Under 13 & 15 boys team matches, while the green and gold Shane Wright coached Hamblin Building Under 17 outfit showed they will be a force to be reckoned with in 2022. They certainly picked up from their grand final defeat last year walloping their fancied Redlands opponents 38 – 4.
Wattles’ Hamish Gartery contributed two touchdowns in the one-sided encounter that also saw Mitch Ranger don Wattles colours again for the first-time since his Under 12 year and score on the end of a fifty-metre gallop to finish off an exceptional team display.
Wattles Ladies League Tag team excelled with a classy win over Stanthorpe’s reigning premiership winning side.
Junior Rugby League makes its new season entrance to Platz Oval on Saturday, hosting Toowoomba’s Newtown Lions, the Stanthorpe Gremlins and Warwick’s Collegians Ladies team in pre-season trials.
The young Warriors will match up against Newtown in the Under 6 - 12 grades, with Wattles than taking on the Stanthorpe Gremlins in Under 13, 15 & 17.
Wattles Ladies League Tag team will contest their second trial of the new season against Collegians.
Under 13 - Redlands 34 defeated Wattles 4 (Zac Wheeldon try).
Under 15 - Redlands 34 defeated Wattles 6 (Atticus Sullivan try & goal).
Under 17 - Girls League Tag - Wattles 22 (Abbey Monckton, Hannah McElhone, Reagan McMillan, Piper Brady tries; Matilda Baty 2, Hannah McElhone goals) defeated Stanthorpe 6.
Under 17 - Wattles 38 (Hamish Gartery 2, Jack Barbierato, Ashley Perry, Graham Perry, Sam Gilmore, Mitchell Ranger tries; Bryce Stewart 4, Mitchell Ranger goals) defeated Redlands 4.
Glyn Rees
