Statewide score wrap: Diehards rise up in tense Toowoomba decider

Dalby has emerged to be crowned champions of the Hutchison Builders Toowoomba Rugby League A grade competition after a 20-14 victory over minor premiers Toowoomba Valleys Roosters.

The result was uncertain right up to the final play of the game until a Hail Mary pass from the Roosters was intercepted, sending the Diehards faithful - including legendary Dalby Devils junior and Queensland Maroons forward Carl Webb - into raptures.

Dalby fullback Chris Woodbridge was always going to be the danger man and got into his work early with a try in just the third minute to get things started at Toowoomba Sports Ground on Saturday night.

He was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons a short time later in what was a spiteful game at times, spending 10 minutes in the sin bin and it allowed Valleys an opportunity to hit back through their own star No.1 Dylan Chown in the 14th minute.

It was a stop-start game for the remainder of the half, with only a Woodbridge penalty goal separating them at 8-6.

The Diehards came out of the sheds showing better execution and discipline than their opponents, who went down to 12 themselves.

Dalby made it their mission to attack the middle and interchange hooker Max Brady was the beneficiary, diving over in the 55th minute adjacent to the posts, making for an easy conversion for Woodbridge and a 14-6 lead.

The Roosters wouldn't lie down and while they couldn't put a player through the stout Diehards defensive line, crafty half Dwayne Duncan snuck a grubber into the in-goal for Matthew Waites to set up a grandstand finish.

Who else would it be other than Woodbridge to break the deadlock in the 72nd minute, being the support player for captain Steve Franciscus, who was there to snare a surprise Dylan Taylor grubber through the line 40m out.

The fullback, who later received the John "Cracker" McDonald Medal from the McDonald family as player of the match, nailed the conversion from only a few metres inside the touch line for what appeared an unassailable eight-point lead.

Dwayne Duncan gave the Roosters a chance going into the final minute after striking a long-range penalty goal to close the margin to six, but Dalby held on to win their first premiership since 2017.

The title looked a world away at the mid-way point of the season with the Diehards sitting with five wins and four losses having lost four of their previous five, before bringing a new resolve as a group to inspire the charge home to glory.

It was a memorable day for Max Brady, the Dalby junior celebrating the triumph in his first season of A grade.

"It's something that I didn't really think would happen, but it's amazing. It's an unreal feeling," he said.

"I think at one stage throughout the season, probably middle of season we were just losing games that we should be winning.

"I think we were sitting sixth at one stage and then we just turned it on in that second half of the season.

"We just started playing more of us as a team instead of individuals. Blake Mara (Diehards lock) we started using him as a ballplayer through the middle and letting our halves run whenever they wanted... and it worked.

"And then Woody (Chris Woodbridge) at the back - well you can't teach speed.

"Full credit to Valleys. They were very tough. This is my first year of A grade and the hardest games I've ever played have been against them."

Brady also paid tribute to veteran hooker Daniel Wassell, who was injured late in the decider, for leading the way with his one percenters all season.

The win was a tinge bittersweet, with Brady being able to enjoy the win alongside his brother Noah, and with dad Derek as assistant coach, but without brother Will who missed selection for the grand final.

It was a second premiership for Diehards prop Xavier Manley, but just as special as he enjoyed an emotional moment with his family post-game.

The big man, known as 'Beaver' to the fans, was one of four players in the team on Saturday - alongside Franciscus, Wassell and Dylan Taylor - who played in the 2017 win.

Manley said a family mantra among the team drove the success.

"That's the way we ended up playing all season, especially today, backs to the wall, we had a man down and that's the whole family culture that we've got and the whole Dalby community behind us," he said.

"That noise out there, I've never heard anything like it. It was something else.

"It's phenomenal. Every game, they all jumped behind us, we had four or five buses (of fans) here. I think we drowned out all the Toowoomba faithful and yeah, it was awesome."

Manley said coach Jason Connors' role in galvanising the group should not be underestimated in inspiring the victory.

"He's brought everyone together. We're not a team of superstars - bar Chris Woodbridge - and (Connors) has brought everyone together and made everyone believe and as I said, that whole family mantra. I haven't seen something like that before, so you've got to give a hell of a lot of credit to him."

Manley said he hoped to continue to momentum into next year and build up sustained success for their passionate supporters in a proud rugby league town.

Earlier in the day, Gatton was too good in the Toowoomba Sports Club Open Women's grand final, recording a 32-16 victory.

Valleys earned one win of their three grand finals, beating Dalby 26-10 in reserve grade.

The Roosters opened the day with a heartbreaking defeat to Highfields in the under 19s, the Eagles winning with a Declan Ryan field goal in golden point extra time.

Prior to the A grade grand final, Queensland Team of the Century and nine-time Australian test player Duncan Thompson - who is also recognised as the godfather of modern coaching - was inducted into the Toowoomba Regional Sports Hall of Fame.

The family of the late John McDonald, already a member of the Toowoomba Regional Sports Hall of Fame, awarded the Thompson family a plaque to recognise the honour.

The Toowoomba Sports Ground crowd fell silent soon after when McDonald, a Toowoomba Valleys great, was honoured with a minute's silence prior to kickoff.