Old rivals face off for TRL's top spot

WATTLES and Valleys ready for another blockbuster at Clifton with the minor premiership on the line.

WHATEVER IT TAKES: Dylan Chown (left) of Valleys and Wattles back-rower Ty Gardner will be two vital players in tonight's clash to determine top spot on the TRL ladder. Picture: Kevin Farmer

RUGBY LEAGUE: Ever since the full-time siren sounded in the Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy final, all eyes have been zoned in on August 3.

The date is finally here, with Wattles and Valleys set to continue their encapsulating rivalry tomorrow night.

Plenty will be at stake at Platz Oval, with a Wattles victory meaning the Warriors move back into top-spot, while Valleys can secure the minor premiership with a win.

Despite going down in a heart-breaking two-point loss the last time the teams clashed, Valleys coach Matthew Schulze said tonight isn't about seeking revenge.

"We want to finish first and be in that top spot, and we have to bear them to get that,” Schulze said.

"It's a big game. Pretty much the winner will be minor premiers.

"They've beaten us twice this year, and now we've got to go to their home ground.

"Wattles are in good form as well. They'll be ready for us.

"There are a few little things we need to work on, but we'll give a good account of ourselves.”

The Roosters were without winger Denzel Burns for a second successive week against Oakey, with reliable bench forward Junior Chong-Nee also on the sidelines.

Both will be back this week, and they will be necessary against a Wattles side that player-coach Travis Burns said was at full-strength.

"There hasn't been a bad game played between the two teams in the last couple of years, there's only a whisker that separates us and whoever is on will get the win,” Burns said.

"It's exciting to play in games like this, it's why we play the game, for big games such as this.

"To end up as minor premiers would be fantastic, however we did that last year and Valleys went on to win it.

"Obviously we want to give ourselves every opportunity to win it. We knew six weeks ago what we had to do to get in this position.

"Valleys are the benchmark of the competition, and with the addition of Gerome (Burns) he adds more strike and gives them an x-factor.”

In the process of cementing themselves as one of the top teams in the competition, Wattles have prided themselves on maintaining a strong record at home.

Their unbeaten streak at Platz Oval currently sits at 15 games and dates back to August 2017.

Ironically it was the Roosters who served as the last team to come away from Clifton with the two points, where they scored a 33-26 victory in the final round of the season.

"We've set some in-house goals to make Platz a hard place to play at,” Burns said.

"We've done that over the last two years and have a good advantage playing at home.”

TRL FIXTURES

SATURDAY: Dalby vs Highfields at Dalby RLFC at 6.30pm; Wattles vs Valleys at Platz Oval at 7pm.

SUNDAY: Brothers vs Goondiwindi at Glenholme Park; Warwick vs Gatton at Father Ranger Oval; Oakey vs Pittsworth at Trevor Mickleborough Oval. Games at 2.30pm.

Originally published as Old rivals face off for TRL's top spot