CELEBRATIONS are on high for the sporting fraternity around Allora this week after local rugby league team the Wattles ‘Warriors’ won back-to-back premierships clinching the Toowoomba Rugby League ‘A’ Grade grand final on Sunday.
The Wattles Rugby League Football Club had its beginnings back in 1966 when the Clifton and Allora Rugby League clubs combined to form what was then known as Allora/Clifton, with the Wattles name attached some years later.
The club’s first president was former Allora footballer and Wattles Patron and Life Member the late Brian Smith. Brian, along with inaugural senior vice-president Jack Enright and James Gleeson were largely responsible for the formation of the Allora-Clifton club.
The club has always played in their traditional green and gold colours, their jerseys in their initial year were green with gold numbers. The Allora-Clifton club’s first matches were pre-season trials against Warwick club Collegians on Sunday 6 March, 1966. Allora-Clifton only played one season in the Warwick District competition, before being admitted to the Toowoomba Rugby League in 1967.
In their first year in the TRL the Under 16 side made the grand final but were defeated. Wattles first premiership was won by an Under 16 team though, defeating All Whites 17-7 in the 1968 grand final.
The 1968 season also saw the Allora-Clifton club gain their first State representative when Les Lane was selected for Queensland. Allora-Clifton became Wattles in 1969 after a competition organised by Mal Eiby to give the club a name.
The club has tasted much success in its 50-year history. Wattles won their first A Grade premiership in 1970, defeating Valleys by 20- 17. Wattles have also won Toowoomba Rugby League premierships in many divisions across the years.
Wattles second A Grade premiership success occurred in 1997. They were coached by John McLuskey and captained by Steve Miles. Their third A Grade premiership silverware came their way just last year when they upset the Gatton Hawks 36-12 at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer Stadium, where the latest grand finals was won.
The club boasts five Internationals in the Platz brothers Greg and Lew, Rohan Hancock and former Brisbane Broncos front rower Shane Webcke. Robert Keleli was selected for the Papua New Guinea National side to play Australia from Wattles club ranks in 2004.
Wattles have also had numerous players rise from their ranks to play with NRL clubs including Lew Platz, Shane Webcke, Kirk Reynoldson, Phil Morwood, Tony Duggan, Travis Burns, Robbie Tew, Jordan Atkins, Grant Rix, and Mark Meskell.
