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Revealed: What every A-grade club needs to perform better in 2025

REVEALED: We’ve run the rule over every Toowoomba Rugby League A-grade side ahead of the 2025 pre-season to determine what you need to shine. Find out what should be on your club’s wishlist here.

Gatton Hawks celebrate winning the 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League grand final win.
Gatton Hawks celebrate winning the 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League grand final win.

Gatton’s golden point win in this year’s Toowoomba Rugby League A-grade final will be hard to forget.

It took just one set for the Hawks to go the length of the field from kick-off in golden point to claim the premiership, with young winger Cameron Bundock racing away on the fifth tackle play to break the Valleys Roosters’ hearts.

That electrifying September moment is just a memory now though, with clubs fully focused on the 2025 season.

With the festive season break set to draw to a close soon, here’s our look at what’s on your A-grade team’s wish list.

Joel Hughes runs the ball for Gatton during the TRL Hutchinson Builders A-grade grand final. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Joel Hughes runs the ball for Gatton during the TRL Hutchinson Builders A-grade grand final. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Gatton Hawks

2024 finish: Premiers

Wish: An extra 15% on the field

Just six teams have successfully defended the A-grade premiership since 1980.

Valleys Roosters were an absolute force winning six straight premierships from 2006 to 2011 and going back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.

Millmerran (1981/82), Warwick (1987/88), Brothers (1990/91 and 2000/01), Oakey (1988/89) and Wattles (2014/15) are the other teams to successfully defend their crowns.

Every team will be eager to clip the Hawks’ wings in 2025 so they will need to bring their ‘A-game’ and a little bit extra.

If they can match their efforts this year and consistently add another 15 per cent each game there is no reason they can’t secure a second straight title.

Warwick Cowboys

2024 finish: Beaten in preliminary final

Wish: A grand final ticket

The Cowboys have been one of the form teams in the past few seasons.

With coach Col Speed at the helm they have regularly tested and beaten the top sides and performed consistently.

The Cowboys however have not had the luck when it comes to finals football, falling short at the semi-final and preliminary final stages respectively in the past two seasons.

Beaten grand finalists in 2019, the Cowboys would love to feature in the ‘big dance’ again and get their hands on the premiership.

Valleys Roosters

2024 finish: Beaten grand finalists

Wish: New recruits

Valleys traditionally keep their cards close to their chest in the off-season but this off-season has been particularly quiet.

The only news out of Pillar Street so far is the loss of players to other TRL A-grade sides.

It’s not panic stations yet but club officials will be hoping to lock down the bulk of their A-grade squad soon so they get the ground running in round 1.

Austin Jennings in action for the South West Emus during the 2023 TRL Cultural Cup. Picture: Nev Madsen.
Austin Jennings in action for the South West Emus during the 2023 TRL Cultural Cup. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Wattles

2024 finish: Beaten first round of finals

Wish: A fully fit Austin Jennings

Wattles title hopes took a massive hit in the 2024 pre-season with gun back Austin Jennings suffering an ACL injury that ruled him out for the year.

The Clifton club were able to plug the gap but a fully fit Jennings would be like a brand new signing.

Before his injury Jennings was one of TRL’s brightest stars scoring more than 50 tries over the last two seasons.

If Jennings returns for 2025 you can chalk Wattles up as a finals threat.

Dalby Diehards

2024 finish: Beaten semi-finalists

Wish: A foil for Chris Woodbridge

As far as superstar players go it is Chris Woodbridge first, and then daylight second over the past three years.

The electrifying fullback has scored 106 tries, totalled 810 points and was named Webcke Price Medallist (Best Male Player of the Season) for a second straight time in 2024.

Dalby’s success in recent seasons is not purely because of Woodbridge but he has played a huge role.

With that in mind it would be interesting to see what the Diehards look like with another Woodbridge calibre player in their ranks.

Pittsworth Danes

2024 finish: 6th

Wish: Wins against the big teams

Pittsworth were the surprise packets of 2024 after falling seven points short of a finals spot.

At face value seven points is a lot but the Danes regularly tested the top five teams in the home and away season.

They drew with Wattles once and lost to Dalby by four points or less twice. If those results went in the Danes favour there is a good chance they would’ve played finals and who knows what they could’ve achieved then.

Highfields Eagles

2024 finish: 7th

Wish: A fast competitive start to the season

A young Eagles outfit showed flashes of their true potential in 2024.

After making his A-grade coaching debut this year Steve Haywood is back at the helm and ready to help his side step-up.

If the Eagles are competitive early in the season it will be the ‘shot in the arm’ they need to take their game to the next level.

Connor Williams in action for Southern Suburbs. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Connor Williams in action for Southern Suburbs. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Southern Suburbs

2024 finish: 8th

Wish: Defensive improvement

The 2024 big five – Gatton, Warwick, Valleys, Wattles and Dalby – were forces to renowned with this year putting the likes of mid-table squads Pittsworth, Highfields and Souths to the sword.

Unfortunately for Souths they also leaked points against the teams around them on the ladder.

With a good defensive structure Souths could jump up the table with a few more wins this season.

Goondiwindi Boars

2024 finish: 9th

Wish: Make Gilbert Oval a fortress

The long road trip to the state border used to be one of the toughest TRL assignments.

In recent years though visiting have made the trek to Gilbert Oval with no fear.

The vocal home crowd is still there but the Boars need to use that energy.

More home wins will boost their confidence dramatically in 2025.

Cory McGrady converts for Valleys. Mcgrady has switched Roosters for their cross-town rivals Brothers ahead of the 2025 season. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Cory McGrady converts for Valleys. Mcgrady has switched Roosters for their cross-town rivals Brothers ahead of the 2025 season. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Brothers

2024 finish: 10th

Wish: Strike weapons to support Cory Mcgrady

Mcgrady’s move from Valleys Roosters to Brothers was the news no-one expected to see this off-season.

Swapping TRL powerhouse and annual finals contenders Valleys for a club in the middle of rebuild is a bold move but if anyone can ignite the Brethren it is Mcgrady.

Brothers however will need to find a few strike weapons to support the man labelled as one of TRL’s greatest playmakers.

Whether it is a new signing or an untapped local, Brothers need at least two attacking threats to back up Mcgrady.

Oakey Bears

2024 finish: 11th

Wish: A game plan to gel team

The Bears and change have gone hand-in-hand the past few years.

Plenty of players have dropped into Oakey keen to test themselves and the Bears have been busy again this off-season.

Their dealings now however are a little different.

Bears big signings to date are TRL stars not ‘out of towners’ with the club signing Valleys trio Dylan Chown, John Palavi and Harrison Burns.

New coaching director Alan Kilshaw will no doubt be keen to bring in a few more players as well before the season starts.

Kilshaw’s biggest task however will be finding a plan that suits his squad and getting them to gel quickly.

If can do that the Bears could be the ‘dark horses’ in 2025.

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/revealed-what-every-agrade-club-needs-to-perform-better-in-2025/news-story/e35c8deb0e983ba5e6c3e851bd7c8bf0