Tallon Smith
A gutsy second half performance has secured the Gundagai Tigers a 10-6 Grand Final win over the Wagga Kangaroos and the 2025 Group 9 Premiership at Geohex Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers started the stronger of the two sides, bursting out of the blocks with two quick tries to fullback Tyron Gorman and centre James Morgan to open up a 10-0 lead.
However, the tide turned in the back end of the opening stanza, and when Tigers winger Meli Drau made an error, Roos centre Oliver Hoskin cut Gundagai’s lead to four going into the break.
The two sides emerged from the sheds full of running, and a tough period of set-for-set conservative football ensued, with neither team wanting to be the first to blink.
Some errors and ill-discipline from the Tigers invited the Kangaroos to attack the Gundagai goal line, with wave after wave of attack from the Wagga side being met with gritty defence from their opponents.
The Gundagai defence held firm despite the Kangaroos’ best efforts, and when Player of the Match Gorman ran the ball over the sideline in the dying seconds, the celebrations kicked off, with fans storming the field as Group 9’s smallest town again proved it was the best for 2025.
Gundagai coach Aaron Gorrell said that the resilience shown by his side in withstanding wave after wave of Kangaroos attack was what ultimately delivered them glory on the Riverina’s biggest sporting stage.
“Our boys, their defence in the last 20 minutes was sensational, they just kept turning up and finding a way,” he said.
“Lesser teams would probably roll over and concede one there, but we just kept turning them away.
“I knew it would be tough, but they exceeded my expectations there.
“I was always confident, and I knew we wouldn’t give in, but it was a long second half.”
On the topic of the club itself, Gorrell said that the culture that welcomed him and his family to the Gundagai was the same that saw the Tigers take out the title on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s a testament to the whole town, the whole support staff, the players are all standouts,” he said.
“It’s been the easiest year I’ve had to coach, they took our family in and it’s all about family.”
Meanwhile, speaking after the game to Battlers For Bush Footy, Tigers captain Derek Hay said the run of success in recent years has meant a lot to the tight-knit community, with the club the lifeblood of the town.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s not a fluke that these things happen, so much work goes in, not only on the field but off the field,” he said.
“The committee, sponsors, the whole town gets around us, and we’re very lucky in that aspect, we’re a one team town, no AFL, we don’t have soccer, so it’s massive not only for the footy club but the town.
“It’ll be a massive night in Gundagai.”
The premiership victory is a remarkable fifth Group 9 First Grade title in 10 years for the club, and the first under Gorrell’s coaching, with the new mentor tasting success in his first season in charge.
