Ranked: The TRL A-grade dark horses and premiership contenders

The race to the TRL A-grade title is heating up. Here’s our look at the leading A-grade premiership contenders and the dark horses eyeing off the title. Find out where your team sits.

Dalby Diehards celebrate their 2023 TRL A-grade premiership win.

This time last year all the TRL chatter was focused on the Madsen Rasmussen and President’s Cups.

Now this weekend is just ‘another round’ with a decision made in January to scrap the traditional senior competition mid-season finals.

TRL president Joe Hannant said a major reason behind the move was the concerns clubs had over potential season-changing injuries.

The decision – which was voted on by the TRL clubs – has drawn mixed reactions from clubs in the region, with some giving scathing criticism of the decision, while others have fully supported the changed format.

With no finals footy this weekend we’re shining a light on the Hutchinson Builders A-grade to rank our contenders, dark horses and who is out of the race.

Oliver Chaffey of Brothers against Wattles. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Out of the race

There are two clear divisions in the A-grade competition this year.

Southern Suburbs lead the ‘best of the rest’ in the lower half of the competition.

Despite having a losing record – the Tigers have four wins, a draw and six losses to their name this season – they do deserve some praise.

They have played some quality football this year, the highlight being an impressive 32-22 defeat of reigning premiers Dalby Diehards, but they have fallen well short in matches with the top sides.

Tigers have all the pieces in place though and if they can keep hold of them they’ll be a force in years to come.

Highfields are in a similar boat to Souths with plenty of young stars full of potential and the young Eagles are developing quickly.

Goondiwindi, Brothers, Oakey and Newtown are stuck in the rebuilding phase.

Dark horse

Valleys, Wattles and defending premiers Dalby are firmly entrenched in the finals race.

The trio sit in the top five but no-one can afford to switch off with Pittsworth Danes lurking in the shadows.

Just one point separates sixth placed Pittsworth (12 points) and Dalby with Wattles and Valleys only three points further ahead.

The Danes however could be sitting as high as third on the ladder with 18 points ahead of all three of the previously mentioned.

Late converted tries to Alexander Dunemann (72nd minute) and Max Brady (75th) secured a thriller 36-32 win for Dalby in round one and the Danes have also drawn 24-24 and 12-12 with Souths and Wattles respectively.

Thanks to a mix of young aspiring stars and some veteran heads the Danes have been a tough team to beat this season playing a good mix of stubborn, determined footy as well as producing some exciting passages of play.

The Danes will need to find the next gear in attack if they want to play finals footy but they are scoring a respectable 21 points a game and conceding 22 on average.

This weekend’s match will go a long way to deciding their finals fate with the Danes at home to Dalby with their three games after that very winnable.

Brayden Paix of Wattles against Brothers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The contenders

Gatton, Valleys, Wattles and Dalby have all been impressive in patches this season.

All four sides have suffered defeat to one or more of their fellow contenders this season with Warwick the only unbeaten side.

Gatton sit in second place on 19 points, four ahead of Valleys and six clear of fifth placed Dalby, but it is hard to separate the four teams.

Dalby could be described as the outsiders have scored the least amount of points and conceded the most in the top five but you can’t rule them out.

The Diehards have a good pack, depth and any team with the electrifying Chris Woodbridge in the backline is going to be a contender.

The benchmark

Warwick Cowboys are the real deal this year – unbeaten in their first 11 games.

Averaging a touch over 41 points scored a game and conceding just 11 points the stats speak for themselves.

The Cowboys success however is built on way more than just dynamic attack and steely defence.

Those elements of play are obviously very important but the Cowboys are a true powerhouse team.

Winger Jake Speed is the Cowboys leading try and point scorer, but the Cowboys are about so much more than one player.

Coach Col Speed has built a squad that puts the needs of the team ahead of the wants of the individual and it shows.

The Cowboys work hard for each from the first minute to the last and never take their foot off the gas.