Favourite tag rests with Wattles in TRL
RUGBY LEAGUE: Through all the highlights, upsets and thrills at every turn of this year’s TRL Premiership, there has been one thing that has remained constant.
Wattles just keep on winning.
Weeks ago the league was questioning who would prevail in one of the tightest competitions in recent memory, but now Wattles have put their stamp of authority on the TRL.
Andrew O’Brien from At The Footy with Obee and Cookie
believes the Warriors’ dominant display at Dalby was enough to label them as favourites heading into the finals.
“Wattles are firm favourites now,” O’Brien said.
“They probably had the perfect half of footy when leading 28-6 at half-time.
“I thought Travis (Burns) had one of his best games of the year. He had so much time and patience. Even though (Matt) Duggan was player of the match, he was very good.
“The cream rose to the top. Mitch Koina was brutal and we’ve come to expect Jackson Green’s high quality.
“One thing I do realise when saying the competition has been so brutal and close is when you have a look at the points table, Wattles have only lost one game, and that was to Valleys when Matt Duggan was getting married and they had players out.”
The strong form of the Burns-Duggan combination leads O’Brien to believe the Warriors are well-placed heading into the next phase, but credited their southern rivals for a key combination as well.
“Halves win you finals, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“They’re the cog in the machine that links the go-forward of front rowers through to the magic of players like Jackson Green.
“Talking about masterstrokes, with Ben Sullivan at half, Harry has been growing in stature. He has benefited with his brother going into halfback.”
Valleys loss of form over the past three weeks has been alarming in some circles, but O’Brien believes they can get back on the horse.
“They’ve had their third loss in a row and now come up against Pittsworth who are in a bit of late season form,” he said.
“They’ve lost to Wattles, Gatton and Warwick over the past month which is a pretty tough gig. Kalemb Hart should be back next week, and we’ve seen with Corey Blades that it can lift a side.”
This weekend At The Footy with Obee and Cookie will broadcast from Oakey on Saturday night, and at Platz Oval on Sunday as Highfields look to secure a top-three berth when they face Watttles.
O’Brien was looking particularly forward to calling the Saturday night clash, expecting Oakey and Goondiwindi to put on a show in their final outings for 2018.
“Oakey will be wearing their indigenous jerseys this weekend,” he said.
“Both teams have made big improvements this season and deserve to have their final curtain call up in lights.”
Oakey has climbed to five wins this season after winning just two in 2017, and Goondiwindi, despite winning just three games, has gone through the year with a for and against of -75.
The race will also be on this weekend for the top try-scorer in the TRL Premiership.
Highfields’ Aaron Hooper and Valleys’ Dylan Chown are both tied on 20 heading into their final encounters, while Zac Morris of Dalby has taken leading pointscorer honours with 198.