Warwick Cowboys reserve grade team snatch minor premiership in remarkable unbeaten run

The Warwick Cowboys reserve grade team has claimed the minor premiership before the TRL season is over after an unbeaten run. Here’s how they did it.

Warwick Cowboys Reserve Grade men 2024 (Photo: Sam Williamson)

In an unbeaten run this season, the Warwick Cowboys reserve grade team has claimed the minor premiership, before the season has even wrapped.

Sitting unbeaten in 15 games, Sam Williamson’s men are top of the table on 30 points, with a big gap between them and second-placed Gatton.

A player turned coach, Williamson’s first full season in charge was electric, with the ressies playing dynamic football.

“Our team is about mateship and we’re getting the boys out of their shell, with the younger fellas learning off the older fellas, it’s just about creating that mentorship and culture,” Williamson, who was voted the best coach in town, said last month.

Ressies coach Sam Williamson being interviewed earlier this year (Photo: TRL)

Williamson said the results speak for themselves, and the handwork and dedication the boys put in was evident in their top-of-the-table standing.

“The boys are getting hungrier and hungrier, everyone is starting to realise how much it means to everyone,” Williamson said.

‘There’s a few older fellas who it means the absolute world to them, and the younger guys are buying in and respecting that. We’ve got a good balance in the shed and we’re not getting too cocky yet.

“We’re just enjoying the good footy we’re playing and getting around each other as a group, it’s one day at a time for us.”

The reserve grade men haven’t won a premiership since 2009, meaning a win this year would break a 15 year title drought.

Williamson credits his style of man management to building personal relationships with his players, setting goals and finding out what they want out of the game.

“We had the same sort of group last year, but I lacked the experience. Seven experienced footy players made a hell of a difference, a lot of their experience has gone a long way helping us as a team,” the coach said.

The ressies squad is well balanced, with two fit forwards running up quickly, while some of the experienced second rowers, locks and hookers can bring experience which “goes a long way”.
“I’d gone around to all the players and asked them what their goals are at the start of the season, and we’re almost at the pointy end and I’m getting a lot of ticks,” he said.

Williamson’s men will play Dalby and Gatton in the last games of the competition throughout August before the finals start.