Royce Tout (pictured) is set for a brief spell on the sideline after suffering an injury vs the Young Cherrypickers.
This weekend’s clash between the Gundagai Tigers and the Albury Thunder at Anzac Park is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal matches of the Group 9 season. With the finals just around the corner, both teams have everything to play for, but for the Tigers, it’s a chance to reassert themselves and lock in a home final.
The Tigers have had a solid, if not always dominant, season. They currently sit in third place on the ladder, a testament to their overall strength and resilience. They’ve had their share of impressive victories, but also some frustrating moments, most recently a tough loss to the Cherrypickers. As coach Aaron Gorrell admitted, that defeat was a wakeup call. “We are our own worst enemy at times,” he said. “It was probably one of the worst games we’ve played, and we still had a try disallowed in the last minute to win it.”
He sees it as a valuable lesson, a reminder that they need to be at their best to compete with the top teams. “It’s taken a bit to move on from, but I don’t think you will see us play like that again.”
A key factor in the Tigers’ success has been their ability to grind out wins. They’ve faced tight games and tough challenges, and according to Gorrell, this experience will be crucial in the coming weeks.
“I can see some close games ahead, and that extra experience within our ranks can only be a positive,” he said. “We’ve played a fair few close games this year and we’ve had the job ahead of us, we’ve had the lead and had to hang on and we’ve had to come from behind and keep up with the play and we have done both, so we just have to keep playing to how we want to play.”
Looking back at their previous encounter this season, the Tigers have had the better of the Thunder, with two wins under their belt. A 20-18 nail-biter in Round 1 and a more comfortable 28-16 victory in their second matchup.
Despite the wins, the games were far from easy, and the Thunder’s physicality has been a consistent challenge. The Tigers’ attacking weapons, like Toby Dasey and Meli Drau, have been a constant threat, and they will be looking to their star players to fire again this weekend. However, the team will be without one of their key forwards, Royce Tout, who is being rested due to a niggle. Gorrell, however, isn’t too concerned. “It’s rugby league at this time of year. Everyone’s got niggles and stuff,” he said. “We will be without Royce this week, but other than that, we will pretty much be at full strength.”
He also took the opportunity to back goal kicker Will Herring, who has had a few tough weeks, stating that Herring will remain the team’s kicker for the rest of the season.
For the Albury Thunder, this is a chance to prove they belong in the finals conversation. A win against the Tigers would be a massive statement and a huge step towards securing their place in the postseason. They will be looking to their attacking stars, such as Isaac Carpenter and Lachy Munro, who have both been among the top try-scorers in the competition, to exploit any weaknesses in the Tigers’ defence.
The stage is set for a gripping contest. The Tigers, with their eyes on a home final, will be looking to bounce back from their last loss and show their premiership credentials. The Thunder, fighting for their season, will bring a fierce intensity to the field. With both teams having so much to play for, this is a match that promises to deliver a hard-fought and entertaining brand of rugby league.
– Tully Potts
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