RUGBY LEAGUE: Wattles have eased into fifth place on the Toowoomba Rugby League reserve-grade premiership ladder after their 20-12 victory over the Goondiwindi Boars and play Warwick tomorrow.

The Wattles Warriors next generation have stepped forward in the 2017 season as the club builds on its 51-year history, with local young guns Garth Lonergan and Michael Crank well settled in their roles as reserve grade co-coaches.

In recent seasons 23-year old Crank has worn Wattles colours on occasions, and has been a member of the high performing Millmerran Rams side that was affiliated with Wattles in previous seasons playing in the TRL second division competition.

Aged just 21, Lonergan is a former Augathella local who enlisted in Wattles U18 side five years ago while a student at Toowoomba Grammar School.

The Warriors reserve graders have certainly hit the turf running this season, the Lonergan/Crank formula having the desired effect.

"To date we have had wins over Souths, Pittsworth, Oakey, Highfields and Goondiwindi, but a couple of losses have kept our feet on the ground,” Lonergan said.

Coaching reserve grade has many challenges, the coaching duo have had to deal with the fact Wattles A-grade side has been somewhat injury ravaged and have had to draw on the reserve-grade depth.

"That's footy and what happens,” Lonergan said.

"It's about the whole club, not one team.”

"We have the benefit of depth and speed out wide. I rate our forward pack highly.”

The form of our young halfback Tom Morris is very pleasing.

Wattles play Warwick in reggies at 5.30pm tomorrow at Father Ranger Oval, a game in which Cowboys forward David Hallman will play his 300th game in the TRL.

The first of three games is U18s at 4pm with A grade at 7pm.

- Glyn Rees