Parra’s Piece – Peter “Parra” Montgomery
Round eight of the Group 9 Rugby League season produced some remarkably close matches in four of the five games played over the weekend.
Only the 42-20 win by Tumut Blues over Wagga Brothers could be regarded as a ‘blow out’, but the battling Brothers side, by posting 20 points, got out of the ‘teens’ score line for the first time this season.
The Blues are emerging as a strong premiership contender again this season, after missing the semi-finals in 2024 following a premiership year.
Centre Malik Aitken has found his attacking groove and scored four tries against the Brothers in another impressive performance.
Coach Zac Masters is leading the team strongly from the front, and the Blues are well in contention for a semi-final position with the competition approaching the half-way spot.
Junee Diesels and Cootamundra Bulldogs played a thriller at Laurie Daley Oval Junee, with the home side ‘falling in’ with a 26-24 win in another impressive performance.
The Diesels have been strengthened by the availability of off-season recruits, co-coaches Ben Shea, Chase Bernard, and Dredin Sorenson who arrived in Junee after playing the off-season in the France Super League, Shea and Bernard props in the premiership winning side Albi Tigers.
All three recruits played in the strong Queensland Cup competition.
The Diesels have been the big improvers in the 2025 competition and only recently toppled Premiers Young Cherrypickers and pushed Albury Thunder all the way before going down 40-36.
Cootamundra Bulldogs have been very competitive in is first year back after being in ‘recess’ for a number of years before its comeback to Group 9 in 2025.
It augurs well for the Cootamundra Club in the future.
Wagga Kangaroos continued their unbeaten start to the season with a nail-biting 18-16 win over Premiers Young Cherrypickers at Geohex Stadium, Wagga on Sunday.
Both teams scored three tries, the difference in the end being the goal kicking of winger Charlie Barton who kicked three goals from four shots compared to two from four by Young’s Bobby Roberts.
It was described as the match of the season by those in attendance, and both Clubs are sure to play a huge part at the business end of the season.
Gundagai Tigers posted a strong 22-14 win over SouthCity Bulls at Harris Park Wagga on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers winger Toby Dasey has grabbed his first grade opportunity and has scored 7 tries so far this season, including two against the Bulls on the weekend.
The Bulls have gone off “the boil” with just two wins behind them this season and risk being left behind in the finals race unless they can turn their fortunes around in a hurry.
The Bulls are four competition points behind sixth placed Albury Thunder.
Meanwhile Albury Thunder and Temora Dragons fought out a 22 all draw at Nixon Park, the Thunder snatching the competition point with winger Jade Duroux converting a Lachie Munro try.
The Thunder and Dragons each scored four tries, with Lachlan Hampton getting over for a double, fullback Munro and big centre Sebastian Nelson grabbing the other.
Thunder suffered a blow with the late withdrawal of strike centre Vili Cerei, who missed the game with a leg injury – but reckons he will be right for the Ladies Day match against Wagga Kangaroos at Greenfield Park next Saturday.
The draw is starting to fall into place for the Thunder, with five of the final seven matches to be played at home – the next three straight at Greenfield Park.
Osika (Oscar) Kaufononga, Reece Clegg and Clayton Coulay were mentioned as the Thunder’s best on the day.
Oscar has been a terrific pick up for the Club this season, particular with his game management and kicking game.
Reece Clegg and Rea Lafai both suffered head injuries during the match and could be in doubt for the game next week-end
Reserve Grade
The Thunder maintained its unbeaten status at the top of the Reserve Grade ladder with a solid 20-10 win over Temora in the curtain raiser.
Defence was again the key to the Thunder’s win, with players again getting into the heavy work after Temora had opened the scoring in the early minutes of the match.
Bullocking prop Sam Brodie opened the scoring for the Thunder, with other tries going to Noah Stead, Leith Wilson, and Siamoa Paulo Faitasi , with Keiren Ford converting two of the tries.
Under 18s
The Thunder Under 18 team scored an impressive 24-12 win over the Dragons, to
continue its mid-season form build-up.
Fullback Nate Broekman has made a notable contribution to the form of the side, with his ability to finish off opportunities and his accurate goal kicking.
Nate scored a try and kicked four from four to post 12 points for his team and has now scored 34 points in his three games since returning from injury.
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