Image courtesy of Paul W. Kerr.
After six rounds of the 2022 Group 9 competition there is already separation at the top of the competition ladder.
Both Gundagai Tigers and Temora Dragons are unbeaten after six rounds, with the Tigers on top of the table due to their superior points difference (+80) when compared to the Dragons (+50).
Young Cherrypickers (+154) have lost once, and trail both Gundagai and Temora by two competition points. From there it falls away to a chasing pack with three teams already trailing by two games, including Wagga Brothers (-42), Albury Thunder (-30) and Wagga Kangaroos (-34), all on six competition points.
Towards the end of the ladder are 2021 Group 9 minor premiers the Tumut Blues (-8) on four competition points, while a winless Southcity sit in last position with two points.
Wagga Kangaroos captain/coach and former Gundagai Tiger James Smart believes the three top teams all have the same thing in common.
“For those three sides at the top, the nucleus of their team have kept together, and in some cases, they have added to it too,” Smart said.
“That is obviously important with how you start the season and those sides have hit the ground running.”
Smart, who is in his first year in charge of the Kangaroos, has been forced to deal with several personnel changes from 2021 to 2022.
Still, the Wagga club has shown good signs, and against the high-flying Gundagai Tigers in round six, they only trailed 14-12 at half time before going down 32-20 in an entertaining affair.
“We just need to get ourselves sorted and our combinations right,” Smart added.
The Roos travel to Albury on Sunday to take on the Thunder at Greenfield Park and Smart admitted it was a big game for both sides.
“Yeah of course it is (a important matchup).
We are coming up against a team in a similar position to us and we are fighting for the same spot, so it is a really important game.”
The Wagga playmaker and coach wasn’t too focused on Albury though, and insisted his side needed to concentrate on improving each and every game.
“I think for us we need to try and build on consistency, we have been up and down to start the season, but if we can continue to improve that is all I can ask.
“We need to stay focused on what we need to do and not focus on the opposition and do the best we can.”
It is a big game for both sides, with the halfway point of the Group 9 competition only just around the corner.
Group 9 Round Six results: Gundagai def Kangaroos 32-20; Temora def Tumut 16-12; Young def Southcity 60-4.
Round Seven draw: Young Cherrypickers v Temora Dragons; Albury Thunder v Wagga Kangaroos; Southcity Bulls v Gundagai Tigers.
