By Glyn Rees
It may have been rampaging forward Jordan Crocker’s debut turn out in the Wattles Warriors green and gold, but the former Redcliffe back-rower stamped his authority on the game with a ‘Man of the Match’ performance and a key role in Wattles twelfth Barrett Family Shield success.
The feature match was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of recently passed former Wattles player and 1970 premiership winning team member Trevor Gleeson.
On the back of a mighty display by their powerhouse forward pack Wattles proved more than a match for neighbouring traditional foes the Warwick Cowboys on Saturday night, winning the 30th Anniversary Barrett Family Shield 24 – 12 in front of one of the biggest crowds seen at Clifton’s Platz Oval.
Croker was presented with the ‘Terry Doyle Memorial Medallion’ for his efforts by former Wattles President Jack Duggan.
Player coach Travis Burns donned the ‘Number 6’ shirt and impressed in a season opening display despite the Southern Downs worse kept secret that he had retired.
The both teams were keen for a positive start to the 2022 playing season and the trophy honours, while Wattles were also keen to make up ground on their opponents who have enjoyed finishing in the Barrett Shield winners circle on 17 occasions since the trophy was introduced in 1993.
Wattles can now boast a dozen wins including Saturday evening’s 30th Anniversary Shield, the award presented by Barrett family members Dom Barrett, Dayne Barrett and Glen Hamblin.
It only took five minutes after the kick off for Burns to slice through the defence on a twenty-metre gallop and create the framework for a try by second-rower Ryan Duggan to have Wattles ahead 6 – 0.
Mitch Koina backed up with a second home side four-pointer thirteen minutes later for Wattles to emerge 12 – 0 leaders in the hotly contested clash.
While looking at taking a handy lead in at half time, the Warriors let their guard down allowing Warwick’s quicksilver Toowoomba representative centre Mitch Watson in for a much-needed touch down.
Home side enforcer Brendan McBride was a thorn in Warwick’s side all game and cashed in with try to increase the advantage to 18 – 6 ten minutes into the second stanza.
Wattles forward pack claimed the fourth and final green and gold try twenty minutes from full time when Jordan Crocker crashed over to excite the huge home crowd given the 24 – 6 lead.
Wattles had other scoring opportunities in the corners but desperate Cowboys defence kept the score difference at bay.
When slick finisher Jake Speed snatched an intercept thirty metres out from the Wattles try line he made it count to have Warwick trailing 12 – 24.
The scoreboard remained unaltered for the final ten minutes, and despite the intensity on field, Wattles came away with the honours and silverware on the night.
Wattles 24 (Ryan Duggan, Mitch Koina, Brendan McBride, Jordan Crocker tries; Matt Duggan 4 goals) defeated
Warwick 12 (Mitch Watson, Jake Speed tries; Michael Bloomfield 2 goals).
Reserve Grade
Wattles 32 (Alex Morris 2, Josh Henry, Tim Hentschel, Declan Sullivan, Dale McAntee tries; Tom Morris 2, Lachlan Henry 2 goals) defeated
Warwick 4 (Logan McGrady try).
Under 19
Warwick 40 (Isaac Wickham 2, Jeffrey Ross, Morgan Byrne, Jayden Tucker, Luke Bradfield, Nick Carrie tries; Jayden Tucker 3, Morgan Byrne, Nick Carrie goals) defeated
Wattles 6 (Bailey Steel try; Jacob Meddleton goal).
The Toowoomba Rugby League season kicks off for both Southern Downs clubs on Sunday April 3rd with the Warwick Cowboys taking on the Pittsworth Danes at Club Pittsworth and Wattles front up against Valleys at Platz Oval.
