Statewide score wrap: Devils to Diehards inspires next generation

Dalby Diehards didn't get the win on Sunday, but they certainly won off the field drawing a massive crowd on the back of engagement activities with local juniors, the Dalby Devils.

The brainchild of Diehards A grade team manager Mark Harms and coaching coordinator Kerry Carmichael, Devils to Diehards started last year to encourage young players to aspire to representing the town at a senior level.

Through the week, senior players made their way to Devils training to help out and pass on their knowledge in every age group, then attend matches on Saturday to continue their support.

It culminated in a massive day on Sunday - which sadly didn't involve the planned rides and family fun day extras due to weather - but still made for a fantastic atmosphere. 

The women's and men's sides were soundly beaten at the hands of Gatton Hawks - 16-0 and 42-16 - but fans did see the pathway in action when Devils junior Lyucian King-Togia made his Diehards A grade debut.

Harms said Devils to Diehards had proven a winning concept from all sides, with an eye to keeping young players in rugby league and in the region.

“It sort of exceeded our expectations last year and the seniors have adopted it well to help go back and mentor and really have a relationship with our juniors, which is great," he said.

“We just want our young kids to look up to our Diehards and aspire to be them one day and give them an extra motivation to pull on our jersey.

“There’s a lot of knowledge that comes out of our A grade side, so a lot of them have been playing for so many years and had things to do with rep football as well, so they can pass those drills and those tips on to our younger generation."

Devils president and under 17 coach Brenton McMillan said the presence of players King-Togia, Brodie Wright and A grade halfback Josh Chappell brought a great energy to his team.

“It’s really big for them, and you can tell the boys like it, someone else giving them a few pointers instead of myself and just having that experience of the Diehards there, it just gives them a boost," he said.

“All these young boys and girls in any age group, we want them to look up to the Diehards and we want the Diehards to be their mentors, keep them involved in rugby league in the area and when they transition from juniors to seniors, we want them to stay in Dalby if circumstances permit."

“If we can keep them in Dalby and keep them playing footy, it’s only going to make the town better and stronger."

McMillan said junior coaches also benefited from the knowledge of the experienced Diehards A graders.

Diehards A grade captain Dylan Taylor - a Devils junior - missed Sunday's game but was well entrenched in the week's activities, getting into the under 6 and under 7 training and handing out player of the match awards on Saturday.

Taylor said it was a good reminder for his players to see who they represent.

"Seeing those young kids run around, it makes you realise their love of the game, there's no competitiveness, it's just having fun really and reminds you what you play football for," he said.

"If any positives can be taken out of Sunday's game, the Diehards showed the importance of getting the basics and one-percenters right in big games.

"I think we were competitive for the first 15, got into the grind, then fatigue set in and (Gatton) completed pretty high. We were just dropping the ball every set pretty well," Taylor said.

"We just need to get back to training, we know what to do, it's just the little one-percenters we lacked in that game... so we'll turn it around and stick to what we know and just play our footy."

QRL Central region

Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchison Builders Men's A grade

Round 6 results

Warwick Cowboys 30 def Valleys Roosters 16

Highfields Eagles 32 def Newtown Lions 18

Wattles Warriors 42 def Southern Suburbs Tigers 16

Gatton Hawks 42 def Dalby Diehards 16

Pittsworth Danes 32 def Goondiwindi Boars 18

Oakey Bears 16 drew with Toowoomba Brothers 16

Ladder

TRL Toowoomba Sports Club Women's A grade

Round 6 results

Toowoomba Brothers 16 def Oakey Bears 8

Highfields Eagles 32 def Newtown Lions 26

Gatton Hawks 16 def Dalby Diehards 0

Ladder

Border Rugby League Men's

Round 1 results

MacIntyre Warriors 22 def Texas Terriers 12

Inglewood Roosters 50 def Stanthorpe Gremlins 16

Ladder

Central Highlands Rugby League Emerald Industrial Supplies Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Dysart Bulls 76 def Springsure Mountain Men 12

Emerald Brothers 72 def Blackwaters Crushers 16

Bluff Rabbitohs 56 def Clermont Bears 14

Middlemount Panthers 70 def Peak Downs Pirates 14

Ladder

Central Highlands Rugby League Sentinel Group Women's Competition

Round 3 results

Emerald Tigers 54 def Middlemount Panthers 0

Ladder

Central West Rugby League Wellshot Hotel Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Alpha Brumbies 28 def Winton Diamantina Devils 18

Longreach-Ilfracombe Tigers 34 def Barcaldine Sandgoannas 22

Ladder

Roma District Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Wallumbilla-Surat Red Bulls 26 def Miles Devils 20

Roma Cities 36 def Chinchilla Bulldogs 6

Taroom-Wandoan Battlers 20 drew with St George Dragons 20

Ladder

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 6 results

Beerwah Bulldogs 26 def Caboolture Snakes 16

Nambour Crushers 22 drew with Coolum Colts 22

Maroochydore Swans 34 def Caloundra Sharks 14

Noosa Pirates 32 def Kawana Dolphins 22

Ladder

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Open Women

Round 8 results

Kawana Dolphins 60 def Caloundra Sharks 6

Maroochydore Swans 26 def Beerwah Bulldogs 18

Caboolture Snakes 14 def Noosa Pirates 12

Ladder

Bundaberg Broadcasters Men's A grade Premiership

Round 4 results

Easts Magpies 26 def Hervey Bay Seagulls 14

Wallaroos 24 def Waves Tigers 22

Wests Panthers 30 def Past Brothers 24

Ladder

Wide Bay Open Women's Competition

Round 4 results

Wondai Wolves 38 def Fraser Coast Crushers 4

Bundaberg Bears 16 drew with Cherbourg Hornets 16

Ladder

Central Burnett Rugby League Titan Industrial Supplies Men's A grade

Round 4 results

Monto Roos 24 def Gayndah Gladiators 12

Ladder

Rockhampton Rugby League Men's A grade Premiership

Round 5 results

Brothers Rockhampton 18 drew with Norths Chargers 18

Emu Park Emus 54 def Gladstone Vallets 16

Yeppoon Seagulls 84 def Tannum Sands Seagulls 0

Ladder

Rockhampton Rugby League Intersport Yeppoon Women's Premiership

Round 5 results

Norths Chargers 10 def Brothers Rockhampton 8

Gladstone Wallabys 32 def Fitzroy/Gracemere Sharks 8

Emu Park Emus 36 def Gladstone Valleys 4

Ladder

Northern Districts Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 6 results

Calliope Roosters 34 def Agnes Water Marlins 14

Gladstone Wallabys 22 def Miriam Vale Magpies 10

South Kolan Sharks 34 def Gin Gin Hawks 16

Ladder

QRL North region

Rugby League Mackay & District Men's A grade

Round 4 results

Mackay Brothers 18 def Souths Sharks 10

Mackay Magpies 50 def Whitsunday Brahmans 12

Moranbah Miners 36 def Wests Tigers 12

Sarina Crocodiles 66 def Carltons Devils 10

Ladder

Rugby League Townsville & District Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Souths Bulls 26 drew with Western Lions 26

Herbert River Crushers 28 def Norths Devils 26

Charters Towers Minters 30 def Burdekin Roosters 10

Ladder

Rugby League Townsville & District Women's A grade

Round 5 results

Herbert River Crushers 48 def Norths Devils 4

Burdekin Roosters 60 def Charters Towers Miners 6

Ladder

Mount Isa Men's A grade

Round 8 results

Brothers 52 def Wanderers 20

Ladder

Mount Isa Women's A grade

Round 6 results

City-Country Mt Isa def Wranglers (forfeit)

Ladder

FNQRL Men's A grade

Round 7 results

Ivanhoes Knights 28 def Innisfail Leprechauns 12

Cairns Brothers 22 def Atherton Roosters 6

Cairns Kangaroos 50 def Mossman-Port Douglas 22

Yarrabah Seahawks 34 def Tully Tigers 30

Edmonton Storm v Mareeba Gladiators - match postponed

Ladder

FNQRL Women's

Round 7 results

Atherton Roosters 20 def Edmonton Storm 10

Yarrabah Seahawks 30 def Ivanhoes Maidens 22

Ladder

Zenadth Kes Rugby League Island Rooster Cup

Round 1 results

Mulga Tigers 24 def Roosters 22

Suburbs 50 def Pioneer Knights 16

Ladder not available

QRL South East region

South East Premier Grade Women

Round 4 results

Beenleigh Pride 26 def Burleigh Bears 10

Mustangs Brothers 46 def Valleys Diehards 12

Goodna Eagles 40 def Aspley Devils 0

Currumbin Eagles def Waterford Demons (forfeit)

Runaway Bay Seagulls def Pine Central Holy Spirit Hornets (forfeit)

Ladder

Ipswich Jets A grade

Round 5 results

Redbank Plains Bears 16 def Fassifern Bombers 12

Brothers Ipswich 48 def Norths Tigers 16

Ipswich Jets 44 def West End Bulldogs 14

Ladder

Brisbane Rugby League Premier A grade

Round 6 results

Bulimba Bulldogs 24 def Valleys Diehards 20

Brighton Roosters 56 def Normanby Hounds 12

Wynnum Manly Juniors 42 def Souths Juniors 6

West Brisbane Panthers 62 def Beenleigh Pride 6

Redcliffe Juniors 30 def Carina Tigers 20

Ladder

Rugby League Gold Coast Men's A grade

Round 4 results

Currumbin Eagles 22 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 20

Tugun Seahawks 22 def Burleigh Bears 18

Southport Tigers 22 def Helensvale Hornets 14

Ladder