We reveal the biggest talking points form round 9 of Toowoomba Rugby League

Round 9 marked the midway point of the TRL season and there was plenty of action across all four main grades. Check out the biggest talking points from the weekend here.

Bailey Rathmell for Dalby. Picture: Kevin Farmer

We have officially reached the midway point in the 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League season and every team now knows where they sit ahead of the push for September football.

Check out the biggest talking points from all grades in round 9 here.

Jake Speed for Warwick. Picture: Nev Madsen.

No doubting Warwick

If there were any doubts over Warwick’s premiership credentials before round 9, then they have well and truly been quashed after the Cowboys’ statement win over Dalby.

The reigning premiers were no match for Warwick as Col Speed’s side put seven tries past the Diehards as they claimed a 40-10 win.

The Cowboys are now nine wins from nine games and have defeated all the sides currently in the top half of the table.

Women’s competition stronger than ever

After dominating the first three seasons of the women’s Toowoomba Rugby League competition, Gatton Hawks will now have to be at their absolute best this year if they want to claim a fourth straight premiership.

The Hawks are unbeaten in their five games this season but Highfields Eagles and Valleys Roosters have emerged as serious premiership contenders.

The Eagles are also unbeaten this season and claimed a sensational 58-0 win over Brothers on Sunday.

Natalia Webb for the Western Clydesdales. Picture: Benny Hassum Photography

Valleys – now boosted by the addition of Western Clydesdales BMD Premiership stars – are also in with a shot and claimed a hard-fought 24-18 win over last year’s grand finalists Newtown.

With Clydesdales guns Natalia Webb, Zoe Cook, Taylor Fenton and Kayla Jackson all in action on Sunday, the Roosters will believe they have every chance of ending the Gatton Dynasty.

In what is set to be one of the games of the season, Highfields will host Gatton this Saturday in a top of the table clash.

Diehards’ shock slump

After a dominant start to their premiership defence, the Diehards have hit their first roadblocks of the season over the last month as they have won just one of their last four games.

Dalby has lost to fellow contenders Gatton (42-16), Valleys (28-12) and Warwick (40-10) to now slip to fifth on the ladder – just one point ahead of the sixth-placed Pittsworth.

While you would expect the strength of the Diehards to see them through to finals, they will need to lift their game if they are to have a chance of going back-to-back.

Cowboys reserves keep finding ways to win

While the A-grade Cowboys have stole the show this season with their stunning run, the Warwick reserves are on an impressive run themselves and are also undefeated after nine games.

Unlike their A-grade counterparts where they have claimed emphatic wins against finals contenders, Warwick’s reserve graders have mastered the art of grinding out results.

Against the lower sides, they have dominated but against the top sides, they have won by eight points against Wattles, two points against Valleys, eight points against Gatton and now four points in round 9 against Dalby.

The Cowboys have showed they are composed in the heat of battle and have nerves of steel to come out on top in the nailbiting contests.