Club legend Danny Wassell celebrated after 17 years with the Dalby Diehards

After 17 years with the Dalby Diehards, stalwart Danny Wassell has reflected on his time at the club after his final game on Saturday.

Daniel Wassell has played his last game for his beloved Dalby Diehards after 17 years with the club. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Dalby’s rugby league fans were out in force on Saturday in a massive show of support for Diehards legend Danny Wassell in his final home game.

Wassell, who has played at the club for 17 years, is moving on to play out west and leaves behind a lasting legacy at a club which he views as “family”.

In the match the Diehards took on top of the ladder Warwick Cowboys, defeating the previously unbeaten side 20-16 with Wassell being awarded player of the match.

He said he was honoured to be given such a meaningful farewell.

“It was a bit of a shock with the size of the crowd that showed up and the guard of honour they did for me, it was pretty awesome,” Wassell said.

“We’ve always had a big supporter base but a lot of my old footy mates came back which was good because those were the boys I’ve played footy with for the last 17 years, so it was good to have them all back there.

“The guard of honour was out to half way on the pitch with all the ex-players and some of the juniors I’ve helped the last couple of years. We had a lunch and a presentation about my accolades and we had presentations from all of my previous coaches who all mean a lot to me.”

Wassell said he would miss the club he has played at for almost two decades.

“I’ll miss playing for Dalby, I am going to keep playing but in a different comp to ease it back a bit, I can't fully hang my boots up yet but I’ll go out west and play in a different comp for a bit and then work my way back into the club in a couple of years and do some coaching,” he said.

“The Diehards are a family, my mother and father have been there for years as well, the people who are running the club are past players, before that they were past Jandowae people.

“To me it is a big family place and with the Devils and the Diehards together it’s grown into an even bigger family.

“Once you’re on the field you become friends with people and by the end of the year you are best mates with them and it changes your life, anyone who goes to a new town to play any kind of sport you’ll meet family and friends.”

Throughout a storied career Wassell said he held his premiership wins and TLR Player of the Year title in the highest regard.

“I came from the Western comp and I had a few runs in the reserves as an underage kid I was probably too young to be playing where I was and from that I pushed myself and worked my way up the grades and started playing first grade in the first year I was there,” he said.

“I think there's only one year out of the 17 years I’ve been there I missed first grade.

“Winning the three premierships and winning the TLR Player of the Year in 2012 would be the highlights.”

Wassell said after their big win on Saturday he was confident in the future of the club.

“We’ve been there abouts all year, we have a very young team and we went to Warwick at the start of the year and they towelled us up a bit and but on Saturday night we showed the crowd what the future of the club is about and hopefully these young kids take this on board heading into the finals.”

Originally published as Club legend Danny Wassell celebrated after 17 years with the Dalby Diehards