Jeffrey Robert on the charge for Junee.
With the June long weekend been and gone, it meant the Group 9 competition enjoyed a competition-wide bye on Saturday and Sunday.
Here at the Junee Independent, the break gave our sport’s team a chance to run their eyes over the competition and predict where teams will finish on the competition ladder after Round 16.
TUMUT BLUES
Position on ladder: 1st (10 points)
Our pre-season prediction: Premiers Revised prediction: Premiers
Player to watch: Mal Aitken is turning into a try-scoring machine on the left edge, and he is starting to work well with Riverina centre Brayden Draber.
If Aitken continues the hot tun, Tumut will be winning more games.
Summary: The Tumut Blues started the season slowly following losses to Albury and Temora, but the Blues have bounced back and deserve the ‘competition favourites’ tag.
TEMORA DRAGONS
Position on ladder: 2nd (10 points) Our pre-season prediction: 7th
Revised prediction: 6th
Player to watch: Hamish Starr is one of the best fullbacks in the competition and an excitement machine at the back for Temora.
Starr can be the difference for Temora, and their success will largely revolve
around his performances.
Summary: Temora has played well above their weight and sits second on the ladder.
Here at the Junee Independent, we’re not convinced they can go on with it, and the final few rounds will be very interesting.
WAGGA KANGAROOS
Position on ladder: 3rd (10 points)
Our pre-season prediction: 4th Revised prediction: 5th
Player to watch: Nathan Rose is the best player in the competition, and he’s proven to be a big game player.
The Kangaroos will be looking to their captain/coach to lead them on a winning run at the back end of the season. Summary: Wagga Kangaroos have been the enigma of the 2023 Group 9 competition.
On paper, ‘Roos are the team to beat.
Still, they have mixed their performances, with a Round Seven loss to Al- bury highlighting their struggles.
The Wagga side will be there when push comes to shove, but they need to discover some consistency to be a genuine premiership threat.
YOUNG CHERRYPICKERS
Position on ladder: 4th (10 points)
Our pre-season prediction: 2nd Revised prediction: 3rd
Player to watch: Zane Bijorac has been a good pick-up for Young, with the Serbian international a handful with the ball in hand.
Young will build nicely towards finals, and Bijorac will undoubtedly be a focal point of their attack.
Summary: The Cherrypickers started the season strongly, but back-to-back losses to Tumut and Gundagai before a less-than-convincing win over Junee in Round Seven has a question mark next to their name.
Still, the 2022 Grand Finalists have a few new faces, and they will continue improving as the season progresses.
ALBURY THUNDER
Position on ladder: 5th (10 points)
Our pre-season prediction: 3rd Revised prediction: 2nd
Player to watch: Lachie Munro has been asked to take on the captaincy in Justin Carney’s absence, and the talented playmaker has done an admirable job.
It is his first season in Group 9, and one can expect him to keep on improving and become one of the better players in the competition.
Summary: Albury defeated Tumut in Round One, but the game was marred by on-field incidents, which led to new coach Justin Carney’s suspension. Thunder have mixed their results, but a 24-18 win over Wagga Kangaroos in Round Seven suggests they are head- ing in the right direction.
GUNDAGAI TIGERS
Position on ladder: 6th (8 points) Our pre-season prediction: 5th Revised prediction: 4th
Player to watch: Tristan Eldridge is the competition’s leading points scorer (60), scoring five tries for the Tigers.
He will get fitter and better as the sea- son progresses.
Summary: The premiers started the season slowly but have since won three on the trot, defeating Junee, Young, and South City. It remains to be seen if Gundagai have the depth to go back-to- back, but they should be playing finals.
SOUTH CITY BULLS
Position on ladder: 7th (6 points)
Our pre-season prediction: 8th Revised prediction: 7th
Player to watch: Speedy centre James Morgan scored a double against Gundagai in Round Seven, and the Riverina representative can be one of the best players in the competition.
If South City will cause any upsets, Morgan needs to be a big part of their attack.
Summary: South City has certainly been better than expected, and they nearly rolled Gundagai in Round Seven. It’s hard seeing Kyle McCarthy’s men making finals, but they will be there to cause a few headaches.
JUNEE DIESELS
Position on ladder: 8th (4 points)
Our pre-season prediction: 6th
Revised prediction: 8th
Player to watch: James Croyden has been a good pick-up. The hard-running second rower gets through a mountain of work, and it would be hard to imagine anyone topping him in the Junee Best and Fairest race.
Summary: For a club three years out of the Group 9 First-Grade competition, Junee has done an excellent job in 2023.
They pushed Wagga Kangaroos in Round Six, going down 18-6, while they gave Tumut a scare in Round Three, going down 22-12.
It’s hard to see Junee getting off the bottom of the table, but a young group is improving every week, and they will win a game or two and prove to be a headache in the back end of the 2023 season. Go Diesels!
