Walker Weekend Challenge plays key role in development of players

With just over a month until kick off, Toowoomba’s incoming junior rugby league president has revealed a key metric he says indicates soaring popularity in the sport. Read the interview.

Dalby’s Mia Johnson is wrapped up by the Valleys defence during a Walker Weekend Challenge match at John McDonald Sports Complex. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Season kick-off is still a month away but Toowoomba Junior Rugby League looks set for another bumper year.

TJRL president Wyatt Cook-Revell said interest in the game is as strong as ever as clubs continue to sign players ahead of 2024 season kick off.

“Our numbers are looking very good,” Cook-Revell said.

“We’re not quite there yet but the numbers (of players) are already close to last year and we still have about a month to go before the season kicks off.”

Braving the rain on Sunday to watch the Walker Weekend Challenge at John McDonald Sports Complex, Cook-Revell said the popularity of the carnival was proof rugby league is “one of the best” sporting codes in the state.

Organisers Valleys Roosters (juniors) were forced to turn away clubs for the first time in the challenge’s history and next year places will be allocated on a first in best dressed basis.

“It reinforces that junior rugby league is one of the best, greatest and most popular sports in the region,” Cook-Revell said.

“The attendance here (at John McDonald Sports Complex) even with poor weather at least for today (Sunday) hasn’t stopped people from coming and participating in the game.

“It is a great initiative by the Valleys club to do this.

Wattles Cooper Zaddow takes on the Dalby line. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“We have a Pittsworth 9s carnival that the Pittsworth Danes club run for our local girls and not too far away from us is the Adrian Vowles Cup at Charleville.

“Toowoomba though puts on a good carnival of football and it’s good to have things done here locally where people can just travel down the road for a good game of pre-season footy.”

Cook-Revell said the Walker Weekend Challenge and other carnivals play key complimentary roles in the development of junior players.

Alongside grassroots junior competitions they are link in the pathway to more football opportunities.

“These pre-season initiatives are fantastic for getting more people involved in the game early,” he said.

“Our season doesn’t start until the end part of April and this is a before Easter initiative, I think it also adds to the pathway that we have here in Toowoomba and ultimately leading into working with the Western Clydesdales and Toowoomba Rugby League.

“Toowoomba has in the past and I have no doubt will continue to produce really great rugby league players but more importantly produce really good people that can stay part of the game and perhaps inspire a lot of these young people in our game to go on to the next level.”

Originally published as Walker Weekend Challenge plays key role in development of players