We reveal the biggest talking points from round 8 of Toowoomba Rugby League

From top of the table clashes and late comebacks, to grand final rematches and star duos facing off against their former clubs, round 8 of the TRL had it all. Check out the biggest talking points from one of the most highly anticipated rounds of the season here.

Jake Speed for Warwick. Picture: Nev Madsen.

It was one of the most highly anticipated rounds of the season and it did not disappoint.

Round 8 of the TRL saw the top six sides face off against each other, with a grand final rematch and top of the table clash taking place.

Meanwhile in the bottom half of the ladder, all the teams currently in the bottom six faced off with the likes of Goondiwindi and Highfields showing they should not be counted out of a top half finish yet.

Check out all the biggest talking points from A-grade here.

Valleys claim revenge on the road

The blockbuster clash of the round saw Dalby host Valleys in a grand final rematch with the reigning premiers headed into the contest as favourites on their home deck.

This year has seen a change in fortunes for the Roosters as they have gone from being one of the most dominant sides in the regular season last year - where they lost just one game - to losing three of their first six games of the season.

However, despite the sluggish start by their standards, they rose to the occasion and claimed a vital win over Dalby to remain just one point outside of the top five.

Can anyone stop Warwick?

The Warwick Cowboys have been the revelation of the season with eight wins from eight games and you would be hard-pressed to find a side more likely to make a deep finals run at the moment.

Each week, the Cowboys continue to shine and in the last month, have proved they are genuine contenders.

Three of their last four games have been against sides currently in the top six and their resilient 18-10 win over the Gatton Hawks was proof they are the real deal.

The likes of Jake Speed and Caleb Murphy have had the ball on a string for the Cowboys this season and have been the backbone to their incredible start to the season.

While they are still unbeaten, they will face their toughest task of the season next week when they take on the Diehards in a must-see clash.

Tony Clevin and Ashley Taylor. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Dynamic duo return to haunt former club

One of the biggest headlines from the off-season was the move of former NRL star Ash Taylor to boyhood club Brothers from Newtown as captain/coach.

Along with taking his talents to Glenholme Park, he was joined by electric fullback Tony Clevin who also made the switch from the Lions to the Leprechauns.

Clevin and Taylor have been game-changers for Brothers with the duo scoring four tries each, while setting up even more.

The duo made their return to the Jack Martin Centre on Sunday and were a class above as they helped lead their side to an emphatic 60-16 win over the Lions.

Clevin was one of the stars of the show as he scored a try and made eight conversions in a scintillating display.

Don’t count the Danes out

After a solid 2023 season where they finished one spot outside of finals, the Pittsworth Danes have continued to build in 2024 and have shown they can compete against some of the elite sides in the league.

Down 12-0 with less than 15 minutes of the clock, the Danes looked like they were staring down the barrel of a defeat to perennial contenders Wattles.

However, Pittsworth refused to go down without a fight and with two tires in the space of six minutes, managed to claw back a draw to stay in the top five.

After eight games, the Danes have picked up four wins, two draws and two losses and are just one point behind Wattles and Dalby, while also one point ahead of Valleys.

The next month will go a long way towards determining if they can make a run for finals this season as they face Gatton, Valleys and Dalby in three of their next four games.