Toowoomba Rugby League 2022 fixture reveal, most anticipated clashes of new season
The top 15 most anticipated Toowoomba Rugby League matches of 2022, PLUS your favourite team’s complete schedule for the year ahead revealed.
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The Toowoomba Rugby League fixture has been revealed for the 2022 season, as 12 teams go to battle for the right to be crowned champions.
Goondiwindi comes into the new year as the hunted after their heroics last year, setting up a number of blockbuster clashes.
To celebrate the release of the draw, The Chronicle looks at the 15 most anticipated matches of 2022 (in no particular order).
WATTLES VS VALLEYS (ROUND ONE)
Two old rivals that don’t know how to play a bad game against one another provides a perfect first match on a Sunday arvo.
Both teams are looking to build on their finals appearances from last year by kickstarting the new year with a win.
GATTON VS OAKEY (ROUND ONE)
No team was hit harder by Covid restrictions than the Hawks to finish off last year, so they’ll be pumped for their first competition game in what seems like forever.
They get a great opponent too in the opening round, with a new look Oakey set to debut plenty of new faces in the black and white.
SOUTHERN SUBURBS VS OAKEY (ROUND TWO)
The first game back at Gold Park for Southern Suburbs should be a ripper.
We touched on the new signings that the Bears will introduce, and Souths have followed suit with some big names of their own.
The new look halves pairing of Brodie Ciesiolka and Ben Cook will look to fire early.
GOONDIWINDI VS HIGHFIELDS (ROUND THREE)
We don’t have to wait long to get a rematch of last year’s grand final in what should be a packed house at Gilbert Oval on a Saturday night.
These two teams played out some cracking contests throughout their four meetings in 2021, and you’d be crazy to expect anything different this time around.
PITTSWORTH VS SOUTHERN SUBURBS (ROUND THREE)
Three of Pittsworth’s first four games will be played at home, so they will be looking to get some wins on the board early.
They take on the defending champs in round four, so they will want to take some momentum into that clash in a thrilling encounter against Souths.
GATTON VS VALLEYS (ROUND THREE)
These two sides met on the corresponding Anzac Day fixture last year in front of what many described as the biggest crowd seen at Cahill Park.
They will look to replicate that on Anzac Day eve this year with a full day of fixtures between two of the competition’s heavyweights.
HIGHFIELDS VS WATTLES (ROUND FOUR)
The last time we saw Highfields and Wattles clash was an extra time thriller in last year’s finals.
It’s a cliche, but both sides always lift when they come up against each other at Kuhls Rd with Wattles having last year’s heartbreak in the back of their minds.
GATTON VS WARWICK WOMEN (ROUND FIVE)
The two grand final teams from last year will battle it out in a rematch of the first ever women’s decider.
Both teams are set to have new faces in the mix, but the intensity that was present in their clashes last season is set to be as strong as ever.
NEWTOWN VS BROTHERS (ROUND SIX)
Two clubs with very proud histories in this competition, Newtown and Brothers boast strong support bases.
That will ensure a great atmosphere at the Jack Martin Centre at a pivotal stage of the season for two teams looking to improve on last year.
NEWTOWN VS VALLEYS WOMEN (ROUND SIX)
Both made the finals last year and will take some confidence into a new season that they can better their showings from the first women’s season.
The Lions have the weapons to be a force in the competition, while Valleys have locked in some key players to take into 2022.
DALBY VS GOONDIWINDI (ROUND SEVEN)
Another squad that has been boosted in the off-season is Dalby, enforcing some big forwards to lead their charge.
A bumper clash with Goondiwindi in front of their home faithful in round seven commences an important stretch before the mid-season finals.
OAKEY VS HIGHFIELDS WOMEN (ROUND SEVEN)
Two of the TRL women’s new teams will meet for the first time in round seven in what should be an intriguing clash.
Oakey has brought in some quality players to kickstart their foundation year, with Highfields graduating a number of top class junior players through the ranks.
BROTHERS VS WATTLES (ROUND 11)
Revenge should be firmly on the minds of Brothers after Wattles brought up a century against them last year.
They claimed some decent scalps in 2021, and they should have this date highlighted in their calendars to try and bring up another.
OAKEY VS DALBY (ROUND 11)
The Bears will want to kickstart their run of games on home soil in the best possible way against Dalby in round 11.
It marks the first of three straight matches at Trevor Mickleborough Oval, with a stretch of five from seven games at the ground.
WATTLES VS WARWICK (ROUND 18)
One of the fiercest rivalries on the TRL calendar is set to end the regular season.
The Southern Downs rivals were both finals teams last year, and all being equal you can expect them both to be contending for a similar finish in this year’s edition.
There’ll be no love lost in a bruising clash at Father Ranger Oval.
TRL MEN’S FIXTURES BY CLUB
BROTHERS: Dalby (A), Gatton (H), Oakey (A), Souths (A), Valleys (H), Newtown (A), Warwick (H), Highfields (A), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (A), Wattles (H), Dalby (H), Gatton (A), Valleys (A), Souths (H), Warwick (A), Newtown (H), Oakey (H)
DALBY: Brothers (H), Valleys (A), Newtown (H), Warwick (A), Highfields (H), Pittsworth (A), Goondiwindi (H), Wattles (A), Souths (H), Gatton (H), Oakey (A), Brothers (A), Valleys (H), Highfields (A), Warwick (H), Goondiwindi (A), Pittsworth (H), Newtown (A)
GATTON: Oakey (H), Brothers (A), Valleys (H), Newtown (A), Warwick (H), Highfields (A), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (A), Wattles (H), Dalby (A), Souths (H), Oakey (A), Brothers (H), Warwick (A), Newtown (H), Pittsworth (A), Highfields (H), Valleys (A)
GOONDIWINDI: Newtown (H), Warwick (A), Highfields (H), Pittsworth (A), Souths (H), Wattles (H), Dalby (A), Gatton (H), Oakey (A), Brothers (H), Valleys (A), Newtown (A), Warwick (H), Souths (A), Pittsworth (H), Dalby (H), Wattles (A), Highfields (A)
HIGHFIELDS: Souths (H), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (A), Wattles (H), Dalby (A), Gatton (H), Oakey (A), Brothers (H), Valleys (A), Newtown (H), Warwick (A), Souths (A), Pittsworth (A), Dalby (H), Wattles (A), Oakey (H), Gatton (A), Goondiwindi (H)
NEWTOWN: Goondiwindi (A), Wattles (H), Dalby (A), Gatton (H), Oakey (A), Brothers (H), Valleys (A), Souths (A), Warwick (H), Highfields (A), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (H), Wattles (A), Oakey (H), Gatton (A), Valleys (H), Brothers (A), Dalby (H)
OAKEY: Gatton (A), Souths (A), Brothers (H), Valleys (A), Newtown (H), Warwick (A), Highfields (H), Pittsworth (A), Goondiwindi (H), Wattles (A), Dalby (H), Gatton (H), Souths (H), Newtown (A), Valleys (H), Highfields (A), Warwick (H), Brothers (A)
PITTSWORTH: Warwick (H), Highfields (A), Souths (H), Goondiwindi (H), Wattles (A), Dalby (H), Gatton (A), Oakey (H), Brothers (A), Valleys (H), Newtown (A), Warwick (A), Highfields (H), Wattles (H), Goondiwindi (A), Gatton (H), Dalby (A), Souths (A)
SOUTHERN SUBURBS: Highfields (A), Oakey (H), Pittsworth (A), Brothers (H), Goondiwindi (A), Valleys (H), Wattles (A), Newtown (H), Dalby (A), Warwick (H), Gatton (A), Highfields (H), Oakey (A), Goondiwindi (H), Brothers (A), Wattles (H), Valleys (A), Pittsworth (H)
VALLEYS: Wattles (A), Dalby (H), Gatton (A), Oakey (H), Brothers (A), Souths (A), Newtown (H), Warwick (A), Highfields (H), Pittsworth (A), Goondiwindi (H), Wattles (H), Dalby (A), Brothers (H), Oakey (A), Newtown (A), Souths (H), Gatton (H)
WARWICK: Pittsworth (A), Goondiwindi (H), Wattles (A), Dalby (H), Gatton (A), Oakey (H), Brothers (A), Valleys (H), Newtown (A), Souths (A), Highfields (H), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (A), Gatton (H), Dalby (A), Brothers (H), Oakey (A), Wattles (H)
WATTLES: Valleys (H), Newtown (A), Warwick (H), Highfields (A), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (A), Souths (H), Dalby (H), Gatton (A), Oakey (H), Brothers (A), Valleys (A), Newtown (H), Pittsworth (A), Highfields (H), Souths (A), Goondiwindi (H), Warwick (A)
TRL WOMEN’S FIXTURES BY CLUB
BROTHERS: Dalby (A), Gatton (H), Oakey (A), Valleys (H), Newtown (A), Warwick (H), Highfields (A), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (A), Dalby (H), Gatton (A), Valleys (A), Warwick (A), Newtown (H), Oakey (H)
DALBY: Brothers (H), Valleys (A), Newtown (H), Warwick (A), Highfields (H), Pittsworth (A), Goondiwindi (H), Gatton (H), Oakey (A), Brothers (A), Valleys (H), Highfields (A), Warwick (H), Goondiwindi (A), Pittsworth (H), Newtown (A)
GATTON: Oakey (H), Brothers (A), Valleys (H), Newtown (A), Warwick (H), Highfields (A), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (A), Dalby (A), Oakey (A), Brothers (H), Warwick (A), Newtown (H), Pittsworth (A), Highfields (H), Valleys (A)
GOONDIWINDI: Newtown (H), Warwick (A), Highfields (H), Pittsworth (A), Souths (H), Wattles (H), Dalby (A), Gatton (H), Oakey (A), Brothers (H), Valleys (A), Newtown (A), Warwick (H), Souths (A), Pittsworth (H), Dalby (H), Wattles (A), Highfields (A)
HIGHFIELDS: Souths (H), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (A), Dalby (A), Gatton (H), Oakey (A), Brothers (H), Valleys (A), Newtown (H), Warwick (A), Pittsworth (A), Dalby (H), Oakey (H), Gatton (A), Goondiwindi (H)
NEWTOWN: Goondiwindi (A), Dalby (A), Gatton (H), Oakey (A), Brothers (H), Valleys (A), Warwick (H), Highfields (A), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (H), Oakey (H), Gatton (A), Valleys (H), Brothers (A), Dalby (H)
OAKEY:Gatton (A), Brothers (H), Valleys (A), Newtown (H), Warwick (A), Highfields (H), Pittsworth (A), Goondiwindi (H), Dalby (H), Gatton (H), Newtown (A), Valleys (H), Highfields (A), Warwick (H), Brothers (A)
PITTSWORTH: Warwick (H), Highfields (A), Goondiwindi (H), Dalby (H), Gatton (A), Oakey (H), Brothers (A), Valleys (H), Newtown (A), Warwick (A), Highfields (H), Goondiwindi (A), Gatton (H), Dalby (A)
VALLEYS: Dalby (H), Gatton (A), Oakey (H), Brothers (A), Newtown (H), Warwick (A), Highfields (H), Pittsworth (A), Goondiwindi (H), Dalby (A), Brothers (H), Oakey (A), Newtown (A), Gatton (H)
WARWICK: Pittsworth (A), Goondiwindi (H), Dalby (H), Gatton (A), Oakey (H), Brothers (A), Valleys (H), Newtown (A), Highfields (H), Pittsworth (H), Goondiwindi (A), Gatton (H), Dalby (A), Brothers (H), Oakey (A)
*All fixtures subject to change
Speed’s vision for Toowoomba Clydesdales
RUGBY LEAGUE: Toowoomba’s representative program has gone to another level in recent years, and the Clydesdales’ incoming coach wants to push it even further.
Former Newtown A-grade mentor Col Speed will take the reins for the Toowoomba Clydesdales, as he looks to build on a 47th Battalion success and a XXXX League Championship final berth.
The significance of the role isn’t lost on Speed, who admits there was a level of emotion when finding out he had earned the position.
“I got quite emotional when I found it,” he said.
“I come from a small town in Thargomindah where rugby league was our bread and butter.
“We were a mad sporting family where we played league in the winter and cricket in the summer.
“I thought of my late mum and dad and how much effort they put into me.
“To me this is the pinnacle of coaching here, with who’s been there before, and I’m looking forward to doing the job proud.”
As for his vision for the year ahead, Speed said the coaching crew want to create a cohesive atmosphere for the squad to be pest prepared for their representative tasks.
“We’ve got a good selection criteria with the Indigenous Emus vs Allstars game. We’ll use that as a platform to go into the 47th Battalion,” he said.
“What we really want to do is select a bigger squad. That’s not to say the trial is the be all and end all. We’ll have our eyes and ears out (at club games).
“Within that squad you want to look at blokes that have that experience, but also bring through some of the younger generation so they can see what it’s about.”
Coaching a squad with limited time and in shorter format games isn’t without its challenges, but Speed believes the right procedures will be in place to continue their success.
“I’ve done it before and learnt a lot from it,” he said.
“We have to come in with a game sense mind. We’ve only got them for a short period so it’s important to get combinations going.
“They’re 25-minute halves that are high intensity in short periods of time, with only three training sessions prior to going away.”
Speed’s hopes are high for the next team to represent the Clydesdales, with strong recruitment drives across the league.
“The other thing that excites me is speaking to some of the coaches around the league, their recruitment drives have been fantastic,” he said.
“Clubs are in good hands with the quality of coaching in the league. It works both ways.”
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