Former Valleys coach cops four game ban after grand final defeat

A well respected league coach has opened up about the sideline incident that saw him banned, costing him an elite coaching promotion. Here’s what the prominent mentor had to say about his ban and what it means for his future.

Now former Valleys coach Matthew Schulze has copped a four week ban after approaching match officials in the wake of his side’s loss to Gatton Hawks in the 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League grand final.

Veteran Toowoomba league coach Matthew Schulze has expressed his deep regret in the wake of an incident that has ultimately cost him a “dream” role with the Western Clydesdales in 2025.

Co-coach of Valleys Roosters A-grade at the time, Schulze approached match officials in the immediate aftermath of his side’s golden point grand final loss to Gatton Hawks.

The breach of Toowoomba Rugby League regulations resulted in a complaint from the officials and an investigation that ended with Schulze copping a four game ban.

“It was frustrating and it is full of emotion, and it is something that you would never do if you sat back and thought about it for a few minutes,” Schulze said.

“I am 100 per cent regretful of course, upon reflection of the incident, obviously it was a very emotional time losing the grand final in the circumstances.

“We worked hard over the past two years, made two grand finals. myself and the coaching staff and the players, because there had been minimal changes.

“At the time it was emotional but obviously upon reflection it wasn’t the correct avenue to go through, and I regret my actions and I’m remorseful from what occurred after the game.”

The grand final was supposed to be a Valleys’ swan song of sorts for Schulze.

Having coached at the Pillar Street club since 2015, he planned to move on in 2025 after accepting the role of Western Clydesdales’ Mal Meninga Cup squad coach.

However while the suspension was four games, one of its stipulations means he cannot coach until that ban is served.

“It’s a four-game suspension, but I am not allowed to go to training until I’ve served the games,” he said.

“So the suspension essentially runs out in March.

“I chose not to appeal the decision even though that (the Clydesdales job) was on the line because it was something that upon reflection I shouldn’t have done, and I have just accepted the suspension even though it’s not just four games, it is September to the 10th of March – there was a fair bit on the line for it.”

Valleys president Cameron Love agreed with the suspension handed down to Schulze but was disappointed by elements of the ban.

“The rules are the rules, you’re not meant to approach the refs after the game,” he said.

“If it was a player, a player would still be able to train, it’s like there’s two codes – one for people playing the game and one for coaches.”

Love also added the club would continue to support Schulze in any of his future football ventures moving forward.

Speaking to this masthead, newly elected TRL chairman Michael Burns said he hoped the ban would serve as a warning to coaches, players and supporters.

Burns was not part of the committee that ruled on Schulze’s ban, having only accepted the TRL chairman position in early November.

“Matthew has been a wonderful servant of the game and a great coach for a number of years,” Burns said.

“He has made countless great contributions at many levels.

“We (TRL) however cannot tolerate officials being approached in any manner, and this ban is evidence of that.”