Toowoomba’s Western Clydesdales return to Hostplus Cup against PNG Hunters at Clive Berghofer Stadium

Toowoomba’s return to the pinnacle of Queensland rugby league will be complete on Sunday when the Western Clydesdales play in the first round of the 2023 Hostplus Cup. Here’s how to watch it both in person and online.

It’s a moment 17 years in the making for Toowoomba rugby league fans — the Western Clydesdales will return to the Hostplus Cup this weekend.

The Garden City’s homecoming to the highest tier of Queensland rugby league will be complete on Sunday just after 2pm when the Clydesdales host the PNG Hunters at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

It comes more than 15 years after the club’s last appearance in the Queensland Cup in the 2006 grand final against Redcliffe.

Western Clydesdales players Darryn Schonig (left) and Jayden Corrigan unveil the new jersey, Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Head coach Jason Alchin has named a squad featuring a mix of ex-NRL and current Hostplus Cup players along with Toowoomba Rugby League stars ready to make the step up.

The team is captained by former Melbourne Storm prop Darryn Schonig, who will provide some valuable experience on the field.

Their opponents on Sunday in the Hunters will be aiming for a winning start to 2023 after enduring a difficult 2022 campaign where they finished third-last on the table.

The Clydesdales enjoyed some strong results from its trial matches, which included an upset 24-16 win over the Canterbury Bulldog’s NSW Cup side — a club with which Toowoomba now has a partnership.

It marks a rapid learning curve for the squad that was only given the green light for 2023 back in June, when the QRL announced the club’s return.

While community support had been growing for a return to the Hostplus Cup, the game’s governing body in the Sunshine State needed to be convinced the Clydesdales could be “financially viable” in order to qualify for the 2023 season.

NTRU CEO Shane Sullivan steps down from his role at NT Rugby Picture: Glenn Campbell

CEO reveals Clydesdales’ blueprint for success

The man charged with turning the Western Clydesdales from rank underdogs to a Queensland powerhouse will base his model on “gold standard” set by the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Inaugural club CEO and former Northern Territory Rugby Union chief executive Shane Sullivan has been kept busy by his new role since he was appointed in November.

It’s no surprise, since the Toowoomba club currently lacks the resources and personnel many of its more established competitors enjoy.

The Clydesdales have no leagues club; it doesn’t own its home stadium and its training facilities are provided thanks to key sponsorships and partnerships.

“Resource-wise, we are behind the eight-ball compared to those longer-established clubs with leagues clubs,” Mr Sullivan told The Chronicle.

“It becomes a challenge for us but that just means we need to work smarter and harder to build that legacy moving forward.”

Ahead of the Clydesdales’ return to the Hostplus Cup on Sunday against the PNG Hunters, Mr Sullivan laid out the club’s strengths and weaknesses as well as his vision for it as a business over the coming years.

Among his charters will be ensuring the club can remain “financially viable” off the pitch, which was a key requirement of the Queensland Rugby League to allow the Clydesdales back into the competition.

Mr Sullivan said strong ticket and membership sales and local business sponsorships would keep the Clydesdales afloat over the next two years.

But he said the priority would be to find a permanent home for the club that it could leverage off.

“We are relying on good crowds to fund the football program — we had 2500 at the Bulldogs trial match (in February), we’d love that for the entire season,” Mr Sullivan said.

“Individual memberships and crowds will help that (but) we do not also have our own facility, we are a little nomadic at the moment and relying on the generosity of the regional clubs.

“We can’t just rely on football income and sponsors and partners, we need to look at alternative revenue streams.

“Our ultimate goal would be a leagues club in the region – we’re looking at all opportunities, whether it’s a joint-venture with another club or business.”

Mr Sullivan said there had been informal discussions around a collaboration with the Toowoomba Rugby League clubs to secure the futures of both ventures.

He said the commercial success of the Redcliffe Dolphins, who funded their way into the NRL this year, should be the model the Clydesdales replicate.

“If you’re looking at a gold standard, it’s the Redcliffe Dolphins,” Mr Sullivan said.

“They’ve purchased the land and been able to develop not just a strong leagues club but also a major commercial precinct that includes Coles as an anchor tenant.

“That would be a model every club should be chasing and certainly the model we’re looking at.”

Mr Sullivan said the club’s partnership with NRL side the Canterbury Bulldogs would deliver some financial contributions but also experience and expertise.

“There’s a small financial assistance with that and support with coaching,” he said.

“It’s about working with their marketing and commercial department and work off their ideas and knowledge.”

Mayor praises Clydesdales’ return

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio, who has been vocal advocate for the Garden City to return to the Queensland Cup, urged residents to pack out the stadium on Sunday for the game.

“I congratulate everyone involved behind the scenes in getting the Clydesdales back into the Queensland-wide competition,” he said.

“It has been a long journey, but on Sunday, all of that hard work will have paid off as the players take the field in Clydesdale colours for the first time in 17 years.

“I’m sure there will be economic benefits for Toowoomba in having the Clydesdales back with travelling fans and opposition teams coming to Toowoomba for home games.”

Mr Antonio pointed to the Clydesdales’ famous legacy, which includes wins against the English national team nearly 100 years ago.

“One of the most famous defeats in the history of the English Rugby League team came at the hands of the Toowoomba Clydesdales in 1924,” he said.

“The English had retained the Ashes and beaten Australia but were no match for Toowoomba in front of 10,000 fans.

“Toowoomba mayor at the time Doug Annand, coined the famous phrase ‘Galloping Clydesdales’ at a reception after that match, and all the Toowoomba players received a gold watch.

“The players who run out at the same ground this Sunday will have that legacy before them, and I wish them the best of luck in all grades for the 2023 season.”

Match details

Who: Western Clydesdales vs PNG Hunters

Where: Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba

When: Sunday March 12 from 2.10pm

How to watch: Both Kayo and Nine’s streaming service Nine Now will be broadcasting the game as the Match of the Round online. Otherwise you can watch it on the QRL’s website for a fee.

Round 1 side: Jayden Corrigan, Jerome Taulaga, Bessie Toomaga, Cole Waaka, Mitchell Watson, Cory McGrady, Matt Duggan, Todd White, Drew Timms, Darryn Schonig, Blake Lenehan, Mitch Revell, Nofoasa Malutoa. INTERCHANGE: Hugh Sedger, Takai Mokohar, Melino Fineanganofo, Neihana Oldham.