Tallon Smith

With the 2025 Group Nine season rapidly approaching, the player movement frenzy of the off-season is coming to an end for another year.

As sides begin to formalise what their squads will look like and begin preparations for the season ahead, Battlers For Bush Footy takes a look at every club’s gains and losses ahead of one of the more highly anticipated seasons in recent memory.

Albury Thunder

GAINS: Bronson Meehan (Wests Newcastle), Tupou Junior Fifita (Wests Mackay), Wame Beloluva (Leeton), Ty Tindalevale (CSU Mud Dogs), Leith Wilson, Tei Miti, Vili Cerei, Fatafehi Faone Fakatava 

LOSSES: Justin Carney (Dubbo Macquarie), Zain Mitchell-Dowding (Kiama), Keanau Wighton (Tallangatta Grasshoppers AFL), Chris Manley (Gold Coast), Jeremy Wiscombe (France)

The Thunder have had a busy off-season after parting ways with coach Justin Carney and appointing fellow former NRL star Etu Uaisele to the role. The club has gained eight players leading into the new campaign, headlined by the return of locals Bronson Meehan and Ty Tindalevale, the latter of whom coached fellow Albury club CSU Mud Dogs in the Goulburn Murray Premiership last season. Meanwhile, on the losses front, Carney is joined by damaging second rower Zain Mitchell-Dowding, flying winger Keanau Wighton, and local juniors Jeremy Wiscombe and Chris Manley on the departure list.

Brothers

GAINS: Blake Dunn (Gundagai)

LOSSES: Apenisa Driti (Gungahlin)

Brothers have been by far and away the quietest team on the recruitment front over the summer, with no players announced on their social media channels or via any avenues of the local press. Their sole gain is coach Blake Dunn, who joined from Gundagai as the result of a coaching swap with outgoing mentor Aaron Gorrell, though it is unclear as to whether he will actually take the field or take a non-playing approach. The club’s only confirmed loss is that of Riverina representative forward Apenisa Driti, who was a standout for the wooden spooners during a tough campaign back in the top grade in 2024.

Cootamundra

GAINS: Nikola Sovatabua (Parkes), Tai Vaavale (Valleys Brisbane), Sam Gash (Woden Valley Rams), Jared Elphick (Gundagai)

LOSSES: None

One of the biggest storylines of the 2025 season without a doubt is the return of the Bulldogs to the Group 9 fold, and as a result of re-joining one of the toughest competitions in inland NSW, the club has recruited well to supplement a strong local core. The club has made four signings, with Nikola Sovatabua, Tai Vaavale, Sam Gash and Jared Elphick all set to don the blue and white this year, while they have also avoided losing any players from their 2024 team in the George Tooke Shield.

Gundagai

GAINS: Jack Lyons (DPC), Tevita Vukicea (Kaiviti Silktails)

LOSSES: Jack Schubert (Junee), Luke Berkrey (Yass), Cody Bell (Yass), Kaidan Bell (Yass), Toby Dasey (Junee), Jared Elphick (Cootamundra), Blake Dunn (Brothers)

A traditional powerhouse of the competition, the Tigers have suffered some big losses after their Reserve Grade triumph in 2024. Brothers Cody and Kaidan Bell, along with Luke Berkrey will join Yass, with the latter appointed coach, while Toby Dasey and Jack Schubert will join Junee. However, they have recruited a pair of talented stars, with former Tiger Jack Lyons returning to the club after taking out the Group 20 premiership with DPC last year, while Kaiviti Silktails player Tevita Vukicea will also join the club.

Junee

GAINS: Ben Shea (France), Jack Schubert (Gundagai), Toby Dasey (Gundagai)

LOSSES: Connor McCauley (Junee), Tim Crellin, Joel Munro (Wests Newcastle), Pat Guthrie (retired), Edan Price (retired), Cade Price (retired)

After a season of improvement in 2024, the Diesels have one eye on their next goal of a top five berth in 2025, and have signed some more outside talent in order to play finals footy. Harden junior and former Ipswich Jet Ben Shea joins as co-coach alongside Chase Bernard, while Gundagai pair Jack Schubert and Toby Dasey will also turn out in blue and gold this season. The club has no confirmed losses at this point. The club has six confirmed losses at this point, with Connor McCauley, Tim Crellin and Joel Munro departing the railway town and Pat Guthrie, Edan Price and Cade Price hanging up the boots.

Kangaroos

GAINS: Connor McCauley (Junee)

LOSSES: Bowie Foster (Newcastle RL), Zac Graham (retired), Ben Cronin (Australian Rules)

After a strong campaign where the club finished four points shy of a first grade premiership, the Roos have been quiet over the summer on the recruitment front. The club’s only major signing is that of Diesel Connor McCauley, while they will lose three players in the form of dynamic hooker Bowie Foster, Zac Graham and Ben Cronin.

South City

GAINS: Cody Hodge (South Sydney), Steven Tracey (Wagga City Rugby Union), Maleke Morris (Temora)

LOSSES: None

Another quiet Wagga club over the off-season, the Bulls have recently made a couple of key signings over the past few weeks. Former Bulls Cody Hodge and Steven Tracey will return to the club for the upcoming season, the latter rejoining brothers Brody and Joel at Harris Park after a stint in rugby union, while Maleke Morris has also returned from Temora. The club has no reported losses at this point.

Temora

GAINS: Yoan Veve (France)

LOSSES: Kris Rands (retired), James Stewart (Coogee), Maleke Morris (South City), Zach Starr (Grenfell)

Finalists again in 2024, the Dragons have proven themselves to be a perennial contender in the competition in recent seasons, as the club inches closer to breaking a 19-year premiership drought. The off-season hasn’t been so kind to the Temora outfit however, with the four losses of Kris Rands, James Stewart, Zach Starr and Maleke Morris each creating a gap that the side will need to fill by way of local talent or some late signings. Yoan Veve is the only signing the club has publicly announced so far, however more are expected in the coming weeks.

Tumut

GAINS: Michael Fenn (Hills Bulls), Jacob Sturt (Redcliffe), Mitch Ivill (Tumut rugby union), Parish Bellette, Todd Broad

LOSSES: Jacob Toppin (retirement), Lochlan McGill

After a shocking fall from defending premiers to seventh in 2024, the Blues are looking to get back on the right track in season 2025, and have made many signings to help them do so. Michael Fenn joins the line-up after a stint at the Hills Bulls in Sydney, while Jacob Sturt rejoins from Redcliffe and Mitch Ivill returns from rugby union. The club’s only confirmed losses are those of Jacob Toppin to retirement and Lochlan McGill.

Young

GAINS: Evan Manning (La Perouse), Andre Wright (Matraville), Bobby Roberts (West Belconnen), Jonah Latu (year off), Matt Noakes (Wests Devils), Kai Parker (Newtown)

LOSSES: Nic Hall (Collegians), Jack Bush, Nayah Freeman, Jacob Lucas (Yass), Brock Sing (Yass)

Defending premiers for the first time in 33 years, Young are looking to make the most of the opportunity to defend their crown, and like last season, have again been active in the player market. Sydney-based products Evan Manning, Andre Wright and Kai Parker will join the club in 2025, along with 2016 CRRL McIntyre Medallist and former West Belconnen Warriors stalwart Bobby Roberts. The Cherrypickers have also suffered their fair share of losses however, with premiership players Nic Hall, Nayah Freeman, Jacob Lucas, Brock Sing and Jack Bush all leaving the club after their successful campaign.