Narrow win a shock for Wattles but it's not over yet

ACTION hots up in footy for the Redbacks and Warriors with key games in Toowoomba this weekend.

READY FOR BATTLE: Jackson Green of Wattles against Valleys Roosters in TRL qualifying final rugby league. Picture: Kevin Farmer

THERE are no certainties in footy, especially in the Toowoomba Rugby League competition.

The narrow win by Valleys against Wattles in the A-grade major semi final was a bit of a shock, which puts Wattles against Highfields in the preliminary final this Sunday.

Wattles have only lost games to one team during the fixture season, Valleys, but you would have to think if they meet again in the grand final, Wattles will win the next close one.

Three years ago, I was going to organise a walk from Willowvale and Massie if both Wattles and Warwick made the grand final.

Unfortunately, Warwick dipped out then and in week one of the A-grade finals this season so the walk for a Wattles/Warwick grand final will have to wait to next season or beyond.

After coach Scott Fisher gave me all the names of his Warwick second-division side last week, I was convinced this team could go all the way. They are the first team from our area to make a Toowoomba/Downs grand final this season.

Go Redbacks

PEAKING at the right time is one of the best ways to win a premiership.

The Warwick Redbacks beat South Toowoomba Bombers last Saturday to make it into the final four in the AFL Darling Downs competition.

South Toowoomba were second before losing to Warwick, the same two teams will meet at Heritage Oval on Saturday in the minor semi final.

Fagan success

GREAT to see the Brisbane Lions going well in the last third of the season.

Lions coach Chris Fagan was guest speaker at a seminar last year and impressed me with his views on footy, life and business.

Good to see the knives aren't out for a coach who has had a lot more losses than wins. The board obviously sees the young Lions as a work in progress.

Coaches tend to get blamed too much for poor performances or kicked out even when they are doing well as was the case with Anthony Griffin at Penrith in NRL.

Junior league

IT will be a big Saturday for the Stanthorpe Gremlins club which is hosting the Warwick and District Junior Rugby League semis.

Ten games will be played at Stanthorpe and then the following week Collegians will host the preliminary finals at Risdon Oval. Grand finals this season are at Goondiwindi.

Many players from this area have gone on to play Queensland Cup and NRL footy.

Be sure to get the Daily News semi-final feature in Saturday's Daily News.

Originally published as Narrow win a shock for Wattles but it's not over yet