Western Clydesdales add veteran TRL premiership winner to squad

He’s considered among the greatest players ever to run out in the Toowoomba Rugby League and now he’s ready to test himself against Queensland’s best. Discover who will play for the Western Clydesdales in the Hostplus Cup here.

Wattles premiership winner Matt Duggan has signed with the Western Clydesdales. Picture: Nev Madsen.

LEAGUE: Veteran halfback Matt Duggan knew Wattles 2022 Toowoomba Rugby League premiership win was the end of era.

“I think that’s the end of it for a lot of guys now,” Duggan said in the wake of his side’s 51-20 demolition of Gatton Hawks.

“That’s why the win today was so important to send them off.”

Duggan was right with a host of players officially announcing their retirements in the weeks after the A-grade final, hinting he considered being one of them.

However the crafty halfback, once described by 202-game NRL and Super League star Travis Burns as the TRL’s best half, will play again this year.

Duggan, 32, has joined the Western Clydesdales ahead of their return to the Hostplus Cup after a more decade-long absence from Queensland’s top tier rugby league competition.

“To be honest it (playing for Western Clydesdales) was not in my thoughts,” Duggan said.

“But they approached me and after a fair bit of thought I decided to sign up.

“It’s pretty exciting. Toowoomba and this region deserves to have a team at this level, if only to giveHey all of young players a chance to play at this level without having to leave.

“Being a new side it’s going to be a real challenge for us all, but I’m looking forward to it and I know everyone else as well.”

The former Queensland Rangers representative player and 2021 TRL Webcke-Price medal winner is a big game player.

Duggan, who has won multiple premierships with Valleys and Wattles, consistently puts his body at risk running into the line to get opposition defences on the back foot and knows how to control a game.