There are country rugby league rivalries, and then there is the dogged tug-of-war for Group 9 supremacy between the Tumut Blues and Gundagai Tigers.
The Group 9 rivalry between these founding clubs is over 100 years old. During that time, many chapters have been written, with the history books regaling epic contests and awe-inspiring moments.
Over the years, Tumut has won eight premierships and Gundagai seven, and since 2015, one of these two teams has featured in every Grand Final, with the Tigers premiers in 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2022, while Tumut broke a decade-long drought to lift the trophy in 2019.
Still, the Tigers have the wood over their rivals, with Gundagai defeating Tumut 40-18 in the 2020 decider, while in 2022, Gundagai reaffirmed their status as the best team in the competition, knocking off Young 34-4 in the decider.
No game in the Riverina attracts more attention, with both communities getting around their clubs.
On Saturday, another bumper crowd is expected to turn out at Tumut's Twickenham Oval for their Round 13 contest, and it will be a spectacle of Group 9 Senior and Junior Rugby League, with a mammoth 28 games to be played.
Gundagai's season on the line
With regards to playing finals and potential top-five finishes, this match will significantly affect if Tumut can claim the Minor Premiership and if Gundagai will feature in the post-season.
Top-of-the-table Tumut can all but guarantee themselves an all-important second chance come finals and put themselves in the prime position to finish on top with a win over Gundagai.
Still Gundagai aren’t ready to roll over, with the fifth-placed Tigers outfit staring down the possibility of missing finals for the first time in more than a decade.
After a slow start to the season, Gundagai recently moved into the top five following their 28-8 win over Albury in Round 11, but after losing to Temora 22-18 on Sunday, they still have Albury breathing down their neck with four rounds left of the regular season.
Making matters worse for the Black and Gold, Albury have an easy run home to finals including back-to-back byes.
In contrast, the Tigers have the Blues in Tumut, an away trip against the improved Junee Diesels in Round 14, and a home game against the Young Cherrypickers in Round 15.
Battle of the forwards
It doesn't matter the line-ups that Gundagai and Tumut field when these heavyweights clash as the games are always physical with both packs are big, mobile, and always up for a bash and barge style of game.
The Blues will be led by the inspirational Jacob Sturt, who has been one of the best players in the competition this season.
The young lock gets through a mountain of work, and he is complemented by Michael Fenn, who can break a game wide open with his bullocking runs and ability to get an offload away.
Tumut stalwart Adam Pearce will get through a mountain of work on the edge, while Jordan Anderson at dummy-half will tally the most tackles for his side.
For Gundagai, a barnstorming Noa Vanisi will lead from the front, and he teams up with Joe Bromage to form arguably the best front-row partnership in Group 9.
Royce Tout has been Gundagai's best player over the past two years, and the hard-working lock has kept his side in matches this season. There's no doubt the Tigers will again call on their best player when push comes to shove.
Game breakers could be the difference
With two big packs ready to battle, the difference between Tumut and Gundagai could be out wide, and it's two very different backlines taking the field.
Tumut's attack revolves around brothers Lachlan and Dean Bristow. Lachlan is Tumut's key, and his ability to find a weakness in any defensive line is uncanny, which is why he is the reigning Weissel Medallist.
Dean is a little more calculated, and his kicking game has been superb in 2023. He often orchestrates the left-side attack of Brayden Draber and Malik Aitken, who have combined for 20 tries this season.
Gundagai will be led around by skipper Derek Hay, who has one of the best short-kicking games in the competition, and four-time premiership winner Tyron Gorman, who's fearless in testing the line.
Still, Gundagai's not-so-secret attacking weapons are brothers Matthew and Jack Lyons and custodian Tristan Eldridge.
Matthew Lyons proven time and time again to be one of the best attacking weapons in country Rugby League, while Jack is an absolute speedster.
On top of the Lyons brothers potentially wreaking havoc on Saturday, Eldridge is dynamite at the back for the Tigers. If he can find space close to the line, he's almost impossible to stop.
While it is easy to get excited about Tumut hosting Gundagai, two more big games are set to be played in Round 13.
Albury Thunder can possibly sneak back inside the Group 9 top five, and they will be out to make a statement against the South City Bulls at Greenfield Park on Saturday.
On Sunday, the second-placed Temora Dragons host the third-placed Young Cherrypickers at Nixon Park, and much like Tumut, the winner will be one step closer to a top-three finish and a second chance come finals.
Click here for the Group 9 table.
