Country cousins tough to top

EACH weekend The Chronicle sport team looks at pressing issues on the Saturday Soapbox.

Q: With finals action looming, will Toowoomba teams be able to halt the great premiership runs of country clubs in the rugby codes on the Darling Downs?

Ben Drewe: LOOKING back over the past few years, country clubs have done very well in the TRL and Risdon Cup.

Goondiwindi and Dalby have taken out the Risdon Cup the past two years and are well-placed to do the same again as they hold the top two spots on the Downs Rugby ladder.

There looks like being at least two Toowoomba clubs in the finals with them and it will take a big effort from the city sides to knock off the Emus and Wheatmen.

You have to go back to 2012 for the last Toowoomba TRL premier but that could change this season.

There could be as many as five country teams in the TRL top six, if you count Highfields as being outside the Garden City, but the sole Toowoomba team assured of a finals berth looms as one of the teams to beat.

Valleys can wrap-up the minor premiership this weekend and will definitely finish in the top two.

The Roosters have already claimed the Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy ahead of being the form team of the second half of the regular season.

Big challenges will come from every other team in the finals though.

Toowoomba teams are certainly a chance to pick up premierships this year but I would say the odds are probably with the country clubs.

Glen McCullough: IF YOU were having a punt now on the Risdon Cup you would probably want to be on one of the country teams as the competition heads towards semi-final time.

And checking out the final round TRL standings it looks up to Valleys to stop both rugby premierships heading bush.

The Roosters have regrouped nicely but still have a concerted country onslaught to overcome.

People who know their local rugby union tell me this year’s A grade comp is one of the most open in recent seasons and from what I’ve seen any of the top five teams look capable of beating anyone on its day.

The minor premiership will be claimed by Dalby or Goondiwindi. Nothing new there. They’ve been benchmark teams — and in fact clubs — for several seasons now with the pair contesting last year’s grand final.

There is no fluke about their success.

Much of it has come from a strong club culture and healthy player numbers.

Much is made in sport about country passion and unity and it is something hard to replicate.

The competition’s three city clubs — USQ, Rangers and Bears — have each had their moments during the past decade.

But in the case of Uni and Bears, player numbers and mounting injuries tolls have hamstrung both clubs in recent seasons.

Rangers on the other hand are better placed in 2017 for both player numbers and health and their high competition standing is testament to that.

If they can keep their strongest team on deck throughout the finals the Risdon Cup is certainly within their reach.

Condamine also has built its player base this season and looks like to be rewarded with a top-five finish.