IT MIGHT only be a pre-season trial win but victory at the weekend was big for Wattles on two counts.
The Warriors endured a win-less TRL campaign last year but opened their 2013 account with a 46-34 victory at Platz Oval on Saturday night over reigning Ipswich Rugby League premiers Fassifern.
For some of the Wattles players it was their first taste of victory in 12 months.
The result is also big for Wattles because they unveiled a host of gun recruits in the first half that have them looking at going from easy beats in 2012 to finals contenders for the 2013 Hutchinson Builders TRL Premiership.
Wattles started the game with their A grade team, which boasted the likes of impressive off-season recruits Joel Koina, Mitch Koina, Dan Manley, 2012 premiership-winner Brendan Wilson along with Matt and Ryan Duggan
The Warriors held a 34-0 lead at half-time, after which they played their reserve grade team, so the victory was a confidence boost for the top side as they dominated a strong Fassifern team which included dual international Andrew Walker.
"Some of them haven't had a win for about a year so it was good to get a win up," Wattles coach Luke Duggan said. "Fassifern had a pretty good side. I was happy with how we played. We defended well."
Duggan said that he hoped the club's recruits could help Wattles be a contender this year but fell short of expecting to push the likes of 2012 runners-up Souths for the title.
"We'll be strong. I don't know if we'll be right up there with Souths though," he said. "They'll be the benchmark for sure.
"(But) I'll be honest; I'll be disappointed if we don't make the (top) five."
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