Stanthorpe Gremlins defy odds in history-making season with three teams making finals

The determined club pushed through uncertainty and border closures to create one of their most stellar seasons ever, shattering club records and lining up three huge finals clashes.

The Stanthorpe Gremlins under 17s ladies team are undefeated this season, finishing as the minor premiers. Photo: Contributed

The Stanthorpe Gremlins have defied the odds and broken their own club records, bringing in higher player numbers than ever before and getting three squads through to the finals series.

Stanthorpe Gremlins U17s girls’ team competing against Tenterfield. Photo: Contributed

What made their efforts all the more rewarding was that three squads – the U17s girls, U16s boys, and U13s boys – have made the finals of the Warwick and District Junior Rugby League competition.

The girls’ team are undefeated finishing as the minor premiers in back-to-back seasons, having won the premiership in 2019.

Stanthorpe Gremlins under 17s ladies coach Roger O'Brien. Photo: Contributed

Following no competitive rugby last year due to Covid, Stanthorpe Gremlins president Roger O’Brien said it was encouraging to see so many teams compete this year.

He said he wanted his team to set another standard this year and strive to win as many games as possible while staying on top of the table.

“It’s obviously very rare to go through undefeated in the competition these days so I’m very proud,” O’Brien said.

Not only did the team go undefeated, but they also had so many players they were able to have two U17s girls’ teams for the first time ever.

“This year has been the biggest registration ever and the largest for ladies we’ve ever had, which is pretty cool after Covid,” he said.

“It’s been a treat to have so many ladies involved. It’s been good.”

Stanthorpe Gremlins under 16s squad playing at Sullivan Oval. Photo: Contributed

O’Brien said the club was fortunate to have dodged so many “Covid bullets”.

The season hasn’t come without its hardships for the club, with the girls’ and U16s boys’ teams losing players to the recent hard border closure between Queensland and New South Wales.

“It has affected our girls, we have Tatyana Cook stuck on the other side of the border, so she won’t be in the finals, so that’s a big loss for us,” he said.

The boys’ team have been forced to bring up some younger players to fill in as six of their squad live in NSW.

“It’s tough for them. It’s not ideal going into finals but hopefully we’ll do well regardless, even with a few more challenges,” O’Brien said.

All three teams will play this Saturday in their respective minor or major semi-final in Clifton, with the U13s match kicking off at 8.30am.