The biggest talking points from round 17 of Toowoomba Rugby League

Between top of the table clashes, battles for finals and 18 try thrillers, round 17 of the TRL lived up to the hype. Check out the biggest talking point from the penultimate round of the season here.

Shannon Hicks of Gatton. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The penultimate round of the Toowoomba Rugby League season lived up to the hype and more with some season-defining clashes and a shift in the race for the A grade premiership.

Check out the biggest talking points from the round here.

New team at the top of the table

A few weeks ago, the Warwick Cowboys were firm premiership favourites and seemed invincible after a perfect opening 14 rounds.

However, after suffering two defeats from their last three games, including a 32-16 loss at the weekend to Gatton in the battle for the top of the table, the Hawks are now on top with one game left.

It has been a sensational run for the Hawks as they have lost just one game this year, which was back in round 8 against the Cowboys.

Now, with finals just around the corner, there is no clear favourite for the premiership.

Gatton and Valleys are both in top form in the run home but you still cannot count out Warwick as one of the main three contenders.

Wattles end Danes’ finals hopes

It was a blockbuster round of action with all the top six sides facing off against each other and the A-grade and Reserve grade games between Wattles and Pittsworth held significant importance.

For the last couple of months, Pittsworth have been on the outside looking into the top five but have always remained a chance of cracking into finals.

However, the Wattles A-grade side put the Danes to the sword as they claimed a commanding 60-24 win on the road to end Pittsworth’s chances of making finals.

In reserve grade, it was a much closer affair, but Wattles still did what it set out to do by locking in a finals spot for itself and ending the Danes’ hopes as the visitors claimed a narrow 18-14 win.

Joshua Fanning kicks for Highfields. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Tries galore at Oakey

Led by hat-tricks from Mac Puafisi and Josh Fanning, Highfields claimed a stunning 58-38 win over Oakey in A grade.

There were 18 tries scored, with a try scored on average every four minutes and 26 seconds.

Dalby young guns have minor premiership in sight

In the under-19 match of the round, Valleys and Dalby locked horns in a top of the table clash and it was the Diehards who came out on top with a 16-6 win.

With one game left in the season, Valleys and Dalby are both tied on points, but Dalby holds top spot thanks to a far superior points difference, meaning that all they have to do is win their final game and they will take home the minor premiership.