The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the green expanse of Anzac Park, the air thick with the buzzing anticipation of a final-round clash. For the Gundagai Tigers, the game against the Wagga Brothers was an opportunity to solidify their standing and secure second place on the ladder. A win would ensure ahome qualifying final, while an unlikely loss would push them down to third and force them to take a tougher route through the finals series. For the Brothers, it was another chance to find their footing in a difficult rebuilding year.
From the opening whistle, the Tigers were a force of nature. Their attack was relentless, a well-oiled machine driven by a potent mix of brute force and lightning speed. Benjy Hannan was the first to cross the line, a powerful run that left defenders grasping at air. Then came Gabriel Gul, his try a display of raw athleticism. Will Herring followed suit, and soon after, Tarron Makeham showcased his incredible finishing ability, crossing the line not once, but twice.
The Brothers, for all their resilience, simply couldn’t contain the onslaught. Hayden Ashcroft, a tireless workhorse, powered through for his own try, and the flood-gates well and truly opened. Ed Brooke, a man with a nose for the try line, grabbed two of his own, each a testament to his relentless support play.
Derek Hay, Meli Drau, and James Morgan all added their names to the scoresheet, each try a confirmation of the Tigers’ dominance. The scoreboard ticked over with a relentless, almost dizzying pace. Tigers coach Aaron Gorrell spoke about the team’s deliberate approach to starting the game strong.
“We want to make a conscious effort and just start the game really well because we’ve probably been pretty average at that most of the year. We wanted to front-load our energy and really get off to a good start, and I think we did that, and we came up with some good shape. We scored some good tries,” Gorrell said. “We got what we needed out of it and gave a few blokes some more time than they normally play, and it was a good result. I think everyone who played played pretty well. Tevita (Vukicea) got a lot more minutes than normal and was impressive. I thought his performances over the last two weeks had been excellent. Big Joe (Tahaafe) played a lot of minutes, and then we had blokes like Eddie Brooke come on and played both grades. Caleb Piper came up and played both grades as well.”
Gorrell also noted the importance of managing players’ workload ahead of the finals. “We gave Will Herring the whole second half off, and some of our middles that have been playing big minutes all year got a fair bit of time off. It was good just to share it around, and you never know who’s going to have to play bigger minutes in the next few weeks, so we just wanted to make sure we were prepared,” he explained.
“Will’s had a bit of a tight Hammy, so he normally kicks off and everything, so this week, Jack Elphick was doing the kick offs and Tyron (Gorman) did the goal kicking. I just wanted to give his body a bit of a rest, and we will see how we go this week.”
But amongst the one-sided affair, there were moments of brilliance from the Wagga Brothers. Despite the over-whelming pressure, they fought with a courage that belied their winless season. Pat Sagigi, with a burst of speed and a fend that sent a defender stumbling, crossed for a well-deserved try. Joel Tracey, a beacon of determination, followed up with a try of his own, a small but significant victory for a side that refused to give up. Their conversions, both expertly slotted by Zac Leary, were met with a cheer from their dedicated supporters, a moment of pride in a difficult afternoon.
As the second half wore on, the Tigers continued their charge. Tyron Gorman, a pivotal figure in the backline, not only scored a try himself but also proved to be a master of the boot, slotting nine of his thirteen conversion attempts. His accurate kicking added to the ever-growing tally, a testament to the Tigers’ precision. Gabriel Gul, not content with just one try, crossed for his second, a final flourish on a day of sensational football.
The final whistle blew, and the scoreboard told the story in stark numbers: Gundagai Tigers 70, Wagga Brothers 12. The victory was more than just a win; it was a statement. It secured second place for the Tigers, a crucial position that earned them a home qualifying final. The news rippled through the celebratory huddle: they would host the Young Cherrypickers next weekend at Anzac Park.
The path to the Grand Final was now laid out before them. The winner of their clash would face the Wagga Kangaroos for a spot in the big dance, while the loser would be given a second chance, playing the winner of the Temora vs Tumut elimination final. The Tigers were in control of their own destiny, and the air crackled with a renewed sense of purpose.
Looking ahead to the clash with the Cherrypickers, Gorrell is confident the team will be at full strength. “This week will be the best side we’ve had all year. We will have everybody back. We freshened a few blokes up on the weekend. Toby Dasey didn’t play, Pat (Birch) and Royce (Tout) didn’t play, so everyone will be back on deck, and we are really looking forward to getting everyone out there at the same time. Dylan Murdoch didn’t play on the weekend either, so they will all be back this week,” he confirmed.
He highlighted the key matchup against the Young forward pack. “Their pack. It’s a big forward pack and they get some good go forward. They’re big, physical, so we’ll have to match them there and then. Tommy Demeio at nine is a smart player, too. If we can limit their go forward, it makes it a little bit harder for him, so that’ll be our main focus.”
Gorrell also has faith in his core playmakers, who have remained consistent. “Our spine, our one, six, seven, and nine, are all the same. So the other blokes all they have to do is just catch a ball, run hard and tackle, so the other blokes will get around the park. I’ve got no issue at all with that. Everyone is fit and ready to roll.”
For coach Aaron Gorrell, the win was particularly sweet. A former member of the Wagga Brothers, Gorrell had now well and truly secured bragging rights over his old club this season. His coaching had transformed the Tigers into a formidable force, and this comprehensive victory was the ultimate proof of his success. Gorrell believes the team can go all the way if they stick to their game plan.
“We’ve obviously got a few big weeks coming up and if we play the footy we want to play and obviously every side will be confident going into it but if we can complete high and just get in that arm wrestle and really grind out I think we can beat anyone on their day, so we’ve just got to play week in week out what is in front of us and we just need to keep improving because we are going to have to be good to win it.”
Conversely, for the Wagga Brothers, the final whistle brought a familiar sting. It marked the end of another Group 9 season in which they failed to register a single win. The club, with a rich history, was in the midst of a tough re-building stage. Yet, as the players shook hands and shared words of respect, there was a glimmer of hope. Despite the losses, they had shown heart and determination. The process of rebuilding was long and arduous, but Sunday’s moments of brilliance from Sagigi and Tracey proved that the spirit of the club remained strong. Anzac Park had witnessed a dominant victory, but it had also witnessed a testament to the enduring spirit of a club working tirelessly to reclaim its former glory.
– Tully Potts
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