Thunder set to celebrate Indigenous Round in final home game of the year

Peter (Parra) Montgomery

Where did it go? Where has the 2025 Group 9 Rugby League season disappeared to?

Just as it seems like only yesterday that we were patiently waiting for the season to commence, it is just a week away from being put to ‘bed’ for another couple of months – that is for the First Grade and League Tag sides at least.

The other two grades, the Reserve Grade team and the Under 18s, at least, are in their respective competitions right up to their armpits.

The Reserve Grade team sits alone at the competition, undefeated in 2025, and with just one loss in its past 20 starts in Group 9 (an 18-16 loss to Gundagai in 2024 Grand Final), with a massive points differential in for and against,

The Reserve Grade team has qualified a great core of players to take part in the final series, with a huge number of the promising Under 18 squad eligible to make progress.

The Under 18 squad has uncovered some amazing talent – players who have made the step up to senior football without too much adjustment.
Joseph Hill, Noah Stead, Riley Ivanku, Eric Tui, Jack Harris and Isaac Plunkett, have all had a taste of senior grade football in the past 18 months – and few more boys are not too far off making the transition.

They have all been encouraged to take the ‘plunge’ and all have been ‘protected’ in higher classes of players.

Sunday’ round of football provides us with the opportunity to thank the players, coaches, staff, committee and others who worked hard to provide us with a proud Club to support and follow throughout the season.

AND that is not forgetting the business who allow us to put our hands into their pockets to fund the Club to enable it to fulfil its activities and commitments each season.

Thank you, it is never taken for granted.

FIRST GRADE MISS FINALS

Albury Thunder has missed out on playing in the 2025 Group 9 Final series after being defeated by Gundagai Tigers at Anzac Park, Gundagai last Saturday.

The Thunder went down to the Tigers 32-22 after opening up a 10-0 lead after 24 minutes.

The loss puts the Thunder four points off fifth position with two rounds left to play.

The Thunder Club will be ‘ruing’ a couple of victories which slipped through their fingers in winnable matches.

In round 1 v Tumut Blues, two shots at goal from right in front missed, and the result ended up 12 all.

In round 6 v South City Bulls, a last minute try snatched a 22-20 victory from the Thunder with the Bulls winger scoring an ‘inch’ in from the dead ball line and the corner line off a speculative kick by Bulls coach Cleve McGhie.

In Round 8 V Temora Dragons, the teams played out a 22 all draw with Lachie Munro scoring a late minute try, and Jade Dureaux landing a sideline conversion to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.

Perhaps the unluckiest loss of the season was the 23-22 defeat by Young in Round 11, with the Pickers half back Rob Roberts landing a field goal on full time, on the seventh tackle following a narrow miss at shot by Paul Kariatiana which would have sealed the win in the set before.

Wins in those four matches would have seen the Thunder comfortably placed in the top echelon of teams in the competition, and backed up with the great depth in the Reserve Grade and Under 18 grade, the Club could have ‘a contender’, instead of being ‘a what if’.

The team developed very well under coaches Etu Usuaile, Andrew Smith, and Eli Tipene, and the recruits and players in the Club performed up to expectations.