By Tallon Smith

After a year in recess and what many thought to be the end of the club, the Griffith Waratah Tigers have emerged from the shadows to re-enter the Group 20 Rugby League competition this season.

Following the call in March last year to withdraw from all senior grades for the 2023 season, a small but passionate team of volunteers began planning on how to save their beloved football club from being the latest casualty of country footy’s prolonged struggles.

Leading that group was Waratahs stalwart Robert Nascimben, a rugby league man through and through, who worked tirelessly around his job as the manager of a home-building company to see his once mighty club get back on its feet.

The local rugby league legend said that it was important for the city of Griffith to have two teams on the paddock given its population of over 20,000, and said the turnaround in the club’s fortunes would not have occurred without the work of many volunteers.

“It’s always been a community-focused, community-backed club,” Nascimben said.

“We have a strong support of both old players that are willing to help out, and it’s an achievement to the club itself that we [past players] have committed to this and have been involved in the club for over 55 years, 60 years in one club, so in a few respects, it’s all thanks to them.

“I’m driven by passion, I love the club and I want to get the club back on track.

“It’s not about me at all, it’s about our helpers, I just try to come up with the ideas and try to execute them and make them work.”

Despite the local Group 20 competition itself going through a tough period while the club was rebuilding throughout 2023, Nascimben said that the NSWRL, along with other local footballing identities, offered support to the club during its darkest hour. 

“I can’t forget the NSWRL, they reached out to us a few times to see if they could [help with some] things and they’ve been great, communicating and offering some solutions,” he said.

“And one of their solutions, well, they offered to have a meeting with our committee, meeting forward last year to get back on track. 

“Peter ‘Parra’ Montgomery, he’s [also] been great to help us get back on track as well.

“A town like Griffith, needs [two] rugby league clubs, that’s all I can say.”

As for the future of the club, Nascimben said that junior numbers are promising, not just for the Waratahs, but for the entire Group 20 district.

“I do think there’s the junior base and the junior numbers,” he said.

“The Junior Waratahs [are fielding] 15 teams in their competition this year.

“So their numbers are looking good, and that’ll benefit and grow into something better for the senior clubs, not just Black and Whites and Waratahs, but all other clubs around the area.

“So yeah, rugby league’s still popular, rugby league’s still number one in Griffith.

“It’s always good to have the other codes in town, but rugby league’s number one.”

Another key part of the values Nascimben is trying to drive at the club is going to the sponsor of the opposition for a meal and a catch-up post-game on away trips.

“In round one we [travelled] away to West Wyalong, [and] they [held] a big barbecue and a big club day,” he said.

“We have a great relationship with West Wyalong, and one point that I drive, I have tried to get to the club since I’ve been President for the last four years, is that when we visit an opposition team out of town that we go back to their club or pub or their sponsor for a drink, something to eat, and vice versa when they come back this way we’ll put something on for them.”

As for big events, there is a big one approaching this week, with the club to hit a major milestone in its history.

“The big one in round seven is our 60 year [anniversary],” Nascimben said.

“[The derby against Black and Whites is] tough as knives on the field, but after the game they go for a beer.

“It’s just what the community expects and they look forward to going.”

The work put in by the man they call ‘Naso’, along with many other passionate local volunteers, is why the Waratahs club still exists to this day.

And as always, with similar stories often occurring across the state, we salute to the volunteers of bush footy, who keep our game going even through the toughest of times.