The Chronicle ranks the top 25 moments throughout the TRL season
The TRL season had just about everything, from history makers to star performances and a Covid shutdown. We rank the top 25 moments of 2021.
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RUGBY LEAGUE: The Toowoomba Rugby League season had just about everything, from history makers through to some memorable debuts.
The Chronicle ranks the top 25 moments from the TRL in 2021.
25. COMPETITION SHUTDOWN
Round 15 of the TRL is one that will be remembered for the wrong reasons.
A Covid outbreak in Brisbane forced the cancellation of the round across all grades, putting a dampener on the season.
Gatton was the hardest hit with the restrictions stretching out to the Lockyer Valley.
24. THE ROUND OF POINTS
Thirteen is unlucky for some, but for those who love nothing more than flat out attack, round 13 of the TRL was a dream.
An amazing 414 points were scored at an average of 69 per game, with 76 tries posted across the six matches.
Defence was well and truly the thing around the oval.
23. WARWICK OUTGUNS HIGHFIELDS
Two high-powered offensive units threw everything they had at each other in round nine.
A back and forth encounter saw the lead change multiple times, before a 76th minute try to Alex Donn gave Warwick a memorable 38-34 victory over Highfields at Father Ranger Oval.
22. PITTSWORTH DENIES VALLEYS
It’s fair to say round nine delivered, with a ding dong battle at Herb Steinohrt Oval.
Valleys and Pittsworth put on a classic on a Sunday afternoon, with star fullback Chris Woodbridge slotting a late penalty goal to separate the two teams by just two points.
21. BROTHERS MAKE A STATEMENT
The Leprechauns showed they could contend with the big names, turning in their finest performance of the season.
Austin Jennings and Garrad Brewer both posted hat-tricks as Brothers ran rampant over Gatton.
20. THE WATSON SHOW IN CLIFTON
The local derby between Wattles and Warwick didn’t fail to deliver.
With the game there to be won, Cowboys centre Mitch Watson stepped up in the second half, scoring a double through sheer individual brilliance to lift his team over the line.
19. NANANGO HOSTS TRL FIXTURES
Valleys captain Drew Jackson played a big part in his hometown of Nanango hosting a huge day of action.
The Roosters and Newtown brought the locals out in force to witness some quality football across all grades.
18. STANTON’S FATHER-SON MOMENT
Oakey enjoyed a special moment in round 17, where Kaleb Stanton made his A-grade debut in the same game father Josh played his 200th game.
The moment gave the side a lift, with the Bears downing Brothers in a hard-fought game at Glenholme Park.
17. ANZAC DAY BLOCKBUSTERS
Three clubs had the honour of hosting matches on Anzac Day, and they treated it with the respect it deserves.
Oakey, Gatton and Wattles all experienced big crowds as they paid tributes to servicemen and women past and present.
16. VA’A MAKES A-GRADE DEBUT
Injury prevented it from happening sooner, but 17-year-old Xavier Va’a made his A-grade debut for Valleys in round 17.
The big forward stepped up to the plate against his junior club Highfields, playing his hand in a try in a try.
15. WATTLES CRACKS THE TON
A dominant display from Wattles saw them post 100 points in round 14 as they raced in 18 tries.
It was a pure flex of the muscles from the Warriors on a night where everything went to plan from the outset.
14. SEMI FINAL FOR THE AGES
Clifton witnessed some blockbusters in 2021, none more so than the elimination final between Wattles and Highfields.
The Eagles looked to have the game in their keeping, before two late tries forced extra time.
A Matt Duggan field goal gave the home side the lead, before a late Jarrod Lee try sealed the win.
13. HINCH PRODUCES MASTERCLASS
Cowboys fullback Amanda Hinch proved a revelation in the first season of the women’s competition, with a clear standout performance.
She had the ball on a string against Dalby in round seven, scoring six tries with some absolute crackers among them.
12. WARRIORS CONQUER THE STREAK
In front of a massive Goondiwindi crowd on a Saturday night, Wattles had the task of trying to hand the Boars their first loss of 2021.
They proved up to the challenge, turning in an extraordinary effort to get over the top of them in a thriller.
11. LEACH HEROICS LIFT HIGHFIELDS
Highfields and Goondiwindi enjoyed a classic rivalry this year that will go down in the history books.
Fresh after their battle in the mid-season final, Highfields turned the Boars away once again with the last play of the game, Jacob Leach barging his way over the line.
10. NEWTOWN’S FIRST WIN
It was a tough initiation back to A-grade for the Lions, but they were able to enjoy their finest moment in round 10.
Not given much of a hope against Warwick, Newtown sprung and upset to claim their first win since reinstatement in the top flight of the TRL.
9. INAUGURAL INDIGENOUS ROUND
A brilliant initiative from the league came to fruition in round 12 with Indigenous Round celebrated across the competition.
All 12 clubs wore jerseys with Indigenous designs and clubs embraced the round, honouring the strong ties between the community and league.
8. DALBY U18S GO BACK-TO-BACK
They had to wait two years to defend their crown, but the Diehards did just that in the U18s.
The standout team all year finished as minor premiers and were able to take that form into the finals, with a big finish in the second half giving them the tag of champions.
7. MCGRADY SEALS MINOR PREMIERSHIP
It was a kick that had to be seen to be believed.
Glenn McGrady firstly tied the match up against Warwick in the final minute. The ensuing kick-off went out on the full, leaving the centre with a kick from halfway to win the game.
He stepped up to the plate and slotted it, giving the Boars top spot.
6. HIGHFIELDS CLAIMS FIRST A-GRADE TROPHY
It had been over a decade in the making, but Highfields brought home its first piece of A-grade silverware.
Lining up against the Boars in the Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy final, a surging second half sent the Eagles faithful into a frenzy.
5. GATTON’S RESERVE GRADE DOMINANCE
Not much more can be said about the dominance of Gatton in reserve grade.
They won the President’s Cup final, missed two games and still claimed the minor premiership, and then capped it off with a win in the grand final.
They earned their place at the top of the tree.
4. EAGLES U18 WIN EXTRA TIME THRILLER
There were some tired bodies after a 98-minute war between Highfields and Dalby for the President’s Cup.
A late Diehards fightback forced extra time, before they scored in the last minute of the additional period to push the game to golden point.
With time winding down, Declan Ryan nailed a field goal to give Highfields the win.
3. WOODBRIDGE’S 100m TRY
Toowoomba was firmly under the pump in their XXXX League Championships semi final against Mackay, trailing by two with three minutes to go.
With the home side deep on their line, Woodbridge raced off the line, taking an intercept and racing the length of the field to give the Clydesdales a famous win.
2. GATTON CREATES HISTORY
They set the benchmark throughout the season with an unbeaten regular season, and aside from a small hiccup in the finals, the Hawks flew highest to etch their place as the first ever women’s TRL premiers.
A powerhouse display from Courtney-Lee Nolan helped Gatton fend off a late comeback from the Cowboys.
1. GOONDIWINDI BREAKS THE DROUGHT
A title drought stretching 16 years was lifted when Goondiwindi claimed a 26-20 victory over Highfields in the A-grade grand final.
A masterclass from David Armstrong in the first half saw him nab a hat-trick on the back of some special play.
The Eagles launched a comeback, but it came up short with the Boars opening up enough of a lead to hang on.
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