The Gundagai Tigers are gearing up for an exciting 2026 Group 9 season, fresh off their triumphant 2025 premiership win and under the guidance of new head coach Hayden Ashcroft.
As the reigning champions look to defend their title, the club is blending its rich history with a focus on competitiveness and squad depth to chase back-to-back glory (a feat not achieved in Group 9 since Southcity’s 2016-17 run).
Reflecting on a Gritty 2025 triumph the 2025 season was a roller-coaster for the Tigers, culminating in a hard-fought 10-6 grand final victory over the Wagga Kangaroos at Geohex Park on 21 September.
Despite entering the finals via the long route after a 34-16 major semi-final loss to the same opponents, Gundagai showcased remarkable resilience and defensive prowess. The Tigers became the first team since Tumut in 2019 to win the premiership from that path, holding the Kangaroos scoreless in the second half while relying on early tries and staunch tackling.
Key players like Derek Hay (best-and-fairest), Wilson Hamblin (best forward) and Hayden himself (Players’ Player award) anchored the squad, which boasted an 88 percent completion rate and conceded just 14.2 points per game.
The win marked Gundagai’s eighth overall Group 9 title and capped a dominant day where all five preliminary final winners claimed their respective premierships.
Meet the new Coach: Hayden Ashcroft’s journey to the helm
Stepping into the role vacated by Aaron Gorrell (who moved to St George Illawarra’s Jersey Flegg under-21s program) Hayden brings a wealth of experience as both a player and leader.
The 30-year-old Wagga Wagga junior progressed through the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ system, featuring in 24 NYC (Under-20s) games in 2018 and one NSW Cup match in 2019, where he was known for his aggressive tackling, offloading, and durability as a second-rower or lock.
He returned to regional rugby in 2020 as captain-coach of the Wagga Kangaroos, navigating a COVID-shortened season while mentoring young talents, such as Jordan Coleman and Hamish Starr. His career took a community-focused turn when he joined the NSW Police Force, earning accolades including ‘Player of the Carnival’ at the 2022 State Championships, the Peter Nissen Shield for Country Player of the Year, and selection for the Australian Police team.
In 2025, Hayden debuted for the Tigers, delivering standout performances with high tackle counts (more than 45 per game), strong meters gained (85+), and crucial tries, including a game-sealer against Tumut.
Former coach Gorrell hailed him as the team’s “best by far” after key upsets. Ashcroft’s vision: quotes from the new leader Hayden, who is pragmatic yet optimistic about the Tigers’ prospects, said, “It was a bit of a late decision with Goz making a late call, but it’s probably come at a good time.” “First-grade success is only ever built from a strong reserve grade… if reserve grade is winning and enjoying their footy, it flows into the top side.
“If we can just be competitive again next year, we’ll put ourselves in the picture.”
With plans to select the best 17 weekly on merit, Hayden says he will be treating the club as one team and will be relying on the support of senior players.
“There’s plenty of senior players and people around who’ve been part of multiple premierships… that support was another big factor,” he said.
“It was a great first year back in Group 9, and I got a taste of that success. “It’s such a great group of blokes, which makes those decisions a little bit easier.”
Training schedule and venue: back to the grind Pre-season training is already underway at Anzac Park in Gundagai – the Tigers’ historic home ground. Sessions for Premier Men’s, Premier Women’s, and 2nd Grade kicked off on 13 January, at 6pm, with training continuing every Tuesday and Thursday at the same time. The club encourages all senior grades to join, including juniors transitioning up, as Hayden focuses on building depth across the board.
A storied legacy: Premierships since 1980
The Tigers’ 2025 success adds to a formidable record in Group 9. Since 1980, Gundagai’s first-grade side has claimed six premierships: 1983, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2025. The 1983 win, a 40-14 thrashing of the Young Cherrypickers at Eric Weissel Oval, featured notable contributions from players like Cliff Lyons, who played in that grand final during his early career with the Tigers before becoming a Manly Sea Eagles legend. This history of resilience (Gundagai has been runners-up 13 times overall) fuels the club’s drive for more silverware.
As the 2026 season approaches, with the first round slated for April 11-12, the Tigers are poised to leverage their championship pedigree and Hayden’s fresh leadership for a win. Fans can expect a competitive outfit hungry to extend their dominance in Group 9.
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