Sport
7 March, 2025
Wattles Shine in Huge Junior League Success
The 13th Annual Adrian Vowles Carnival provided the south west centre of Charleville with a massive weekend and local economy impact on Friday and Saturday February 21st & 22nd featuring a junior rugby league extravaganza that saw 56 teams travel from around Queensland to be part of the State’s biggest rugby league Carnival.
Carnival namesake and former NRL star and State of Origin Maroon Adrian Vowles offered his sincere “thanks to everyone that helped to make it happen.”
“The Charleville Showgrounds had the ‘full house’ sign up over the carnival weekend, amazing to see the town population nearly doubling over the event.”
“It’s certainly great to know as carnival organisers, volunteers and sponsors, we are doing our bit to keep junior rugby league going in the Outback.”
Over 200 games of junior rugby league over two action packed days thrilled the more than 2000 people who converged on the capital of far South West Queensland.
Wattles Junior Rugby League Club President Aaron Gilmore hailed his club’s performance at the carnival an inspiration to all involved in the touring teams, and all members of the club.
“Our young players were more than fine ambassadors for their club and community.”
Talented halfback Caleb O’Neil shone brightly in the green and gold colours and after a sterling performance across the weekend was named Under 16 ‘Player of the Carnival’ and also selected in the Adrian Vowles Dream Team.
The talented play maker collected ‘Man of the Match’ honours for the Warriors against both Chinchilla and Redcliffe.
It appears Caleb, who has family in Allora, will play a key role in Wattles Under 15 side through the coming season.
The former Toowoomba Valleys back, a Darling Downs Schoolboy Rugby League representative in Under 11, 12 & 15 age grades, was named Valleys Juniors ‘Player with Most Potential’ last season.
Others to excel at Charleville included William Bishop, named Wattles Under 14 Best & Fairest Player, and Orry Gilmore, Wattles Under 16 Best & Fairest Player.
Under 14 Co-Coach Clayton Brady praised his team and staff highly.
“The Carnival is a great way for players to start forming connections with each other before the season commences.”
“The Under 14’s represented themselves and their club very well. Their attacking and defensive skills improved as the Carnival progressed.”
“Our Wattles players certainly competed strongly and never surrendered across their six games over the two days” commented fellow Under 14 Co-Coach Rylan Saville.
Under 16 Coach Lee Schwenke was also well pleased with the efforts of his 19-player line-up, the Carnival providing an excellent campaign opening experience as the young Warriors step into the upcoming season.
Schwenke is the coach of Wattles Under 15 outfit in the 2025 premiership, a line-up bristling with talent that will certainly respond to their mentor, a highly experienced former senior player and coach.
Allora local and former Wattles Junior Henry McMillan gained selection for an amazing third time in an Adrian Vowles Dream Team named at Carnival’s end at Charleville.
As a Wattles Warrior Henry headed to his initial Adrian Vowles Carnival in 2023 as an invited member of Warwick’s Collegians Dragons team. After joining the Southern Suburbs Junior Tigers Club in Toowoomba last year, he was a key member of the Tigers forward pack in the Vowles Carnival in 2024 as well as the recently completed 2025 event, gaining ‘Dream Team’ honours in each venture.
Wattles Carnival game results:
Under 14 - Friday
Roma Saints/Bendaroo 8 defeated Wattles 0 - Wattles Man of the Match: Will Bishop
Stanley Rivers 8 defeated Wattles 0 - Wattles Man of the Match: Noah Hart
Caboolture 16 defeated Wattles 0 - Wattles Man of the Match: Will Bishop
Wattles 4 drew with Mitchell 4 - Wattles Man of the Match: Jake Burns
Saturday
Southern Suburbs, Toowoomba (Black) 24 defeated Wattles 0 - Wattles Man of the Match: Cooper Zadow
Dalby 12 defeated Wattles 0 - Wattles Man of the Match: Ben Butler
Under 16 - Friday
Southern Suburbs, Toowoomba 16 defeated Wattles 4 – Wattles’ Man of the Match: Jo Jo Beresford.
Wattles 16 defeated Stanley River 4 – Wattles Man of the Match: Orry Gilmore.
Chinchilla 16 defeated Wattles 8 – Wattles Man of the Match: Caleb O’Neil.
Wattles 4 defeated Collegians, Warwick 0 – Wattles Man of the Match Joe Llewellyn.
Saturday
Wattles 8 drew with Highfields 8 – Wattles Man of the Match: Zac Wheeldon.
Wattles 4 defeated Redcliffe 0 – Wattles Man of the Match: Caleb O’Neil.
Pre-Season Trials Underway Saturday - The 2025 pre-season kicks off on Saturday March 22nd for Wattles Juniors with trials against the Stanthorpe Gremlins at Stanthorpe’s Crisp and Sullivan Ovals.
Clifton’s Platz Oval will see its initial 2025 rugby league on March 29th with the local juniors taking on the Gatton junior Hawks.
- Glyn Rees
