Roma District Rugby League A grade club-by-club preview

Footy in the bush is all about the love of the game, toughness, a bit of flair and mateship.

The Roma District A grade competition kicks off this weekend, where all this and more will be on show.

All eyes are on how the 2023 undefeated premiers Mitchell Magpies will back up their heroics, needing to overcome the loss of seven members of their grand final side.

Here's how the clubs are shaping up heading into the 2024 season.

Miles Devils

Coach: Tom Chaplain

Captain: Harry Myers. A tough second row forward who may not be big in stature but has a heart the size of Phar Lap. Harry is a product of the Miles junior system, has played all his football at Miles and shows loyalty and integrity at the club.

Signings/retains: Tasman Coombes (Normanton Stingers), Jesse Bellert (Gatton Hawks), Darius Towers (Canadian rugby union), Felix Meesmann (German rugby union), Jaykob Lankowski (retained)

Player losses: Eoin Bowie (Nambour), Thomas Norfolk (retired)

How will your team improve in 2024?

The club has been fortunate enough to have a few quality players move to our region in recent years and help bolster the club’s playing roster. With new players there are new and different ideas bought to the club as well. Our club is always looking at ways to improve – both on and off the field.

What can fans expect from your game style?

With a diverse range of international flavour in our club, our fans can expect two very different Miles teams (A and reserve grade) in 2024. They will just have to wait and see.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Our club doesn’t take any team lightly, but Mitchell will be looking to go back-to-back with the Roma competition premiership. Roma Cities had a very ordinary 2023 by their standards, so they will be back bigger and stronger in 2024. But honestly, we look at every club we play to be a threat.

Mitchell Magpies

Coach: John Birkett

Captains: Ollie Peak and Tom Kennedy

Signings: Nil

Player losses: Boyd Jump, Sheldon Martin, Kyle O'Toole, Tyson Jackson, Will Jones, Griffin Newton, Jackson Nichols

How will your team improve in 2024?

Just keeping our consistency is the biggest thing. We've lost seven boys from last year's grand final side, so we're starting again. We've got a nucleus of a side, but getting our consistency and fitness level back up are the two things we need to improve or sustain.

What can fans expect from your game style?

Pretty much the same. We won't be as fit, but we will throw the ball around and keep our line speed and good defence. We have the same spine as last year, so we'll predominantly play the same style of football.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Cities have got a few back, so they'll be a lot stronger. 

Roma Cities

Coach: Frank Saunders

Captain: Chris Gelhaar (pictured)

Signings: Cooper Dingle, Damon Qualischefski, Tom Baron

Player losses: Tom Packer, Jamie Cloherty

How will your team improve in 2024?

Better depth. We've got good numbers at training. A few players have come back and everyone is training well.

What can fans expect from your game style?

To compete. We've worked on our fitness in the preseason, so being able to compete throughout the 80 minutes is the main thing.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Mitchell Magpies, the undefeated premiers from last year - a pretty special feat that is. You don't do that without having a good side. They will still be at the top and the Red Bulls (Wallumbilla-Surat) with be tough to beat again.

St George Saints

Coach: Chris Bella

Captain: TBA

Signings: Just a few of the 18s stepping up

How will your team improve in 2024?

We just want to be consistent and blood some new players really.

What can fans expect from your game style?

Just simple footy. We've got to get back to basics. Simple, fast, tough footy. There's no science, really, to footy in the bush. Whoever tackles the hardest and runs the hardest usually wins.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Mitchell went through undefeated last year, so they would be the obvious one.

Taroom-Wandoan Battlers

Coach: Brian Argus

Captains: Jake Parry and Beau Petfield

Signings: Nil

Player losses: Nil

How will your team improve in 2024?

Try to be competitive is the biggest thing. 

What can fans expect from your game style?

Small, mobile and tough.

Who is the team to beat and why?

The top three sides will be competitive - Cities, Mitchell and Wallumbilla are always competition.

Chinchilla Bulldogs

Coach: Reon Rodwell

Captain: Matt Eising

Signings: Regan Olsen (Dalby Diehards), Abraham Tudia, Ravai Lemeki (Fiji)

How will your team improve in 2024?

Defence and line speed. We're going to be a fitter side.

What can fans expect from your game style?

Playing with speed, fitness and moving the ball, playing a bit more expansive. That's how we beat Miles in the Terry Charles Memorial Cup last weekend.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Mitchell are the defending premiers. They're a pretty organised outfit.

Wallumbilla-Surat Red Bulls

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