Tiger tales: How two of the smallest clubs in the Western region roared to life

No one’s on the grog – not until they end that 42-year premiership drought.

Nyngan boss Glen Neill is singing from the same song sheet.

Come Sunday, Neill says the only soul left in Nyngan will be the Big Bogan.

And even then, if the iconic statue’s stubbies, singlet and Billy-Ray Cyrus mullet weren’t rusted on, you get the feeling the Tigers faithful would bring the five-metre tall Big Bogan to Caltex Park for the Group 11 grand final if they could.

Why not?

As Neill said earlier this week, every man and his dog from the town will be at Dubbo on Sunday.

Rugby league means the world to these two Tiger towns.

It’s as much a part of Oberon is as snow and those tiny pieces of wood that often float through the air down breeze from the timber mills on a cold winter’s day.

Or in Nyngan, where just 2000 people call the heart of the Bogan Shire home.

Yet, on game day, visiting sides swear there must be at least double that figure wearing black and gold at Larkin Oval. 

It’s hostile. It’s pulsating. It’s an atmopshere you can’t buy. It’s Tigers footy and it’s what a one-team towns are made of.

And so here we arrive on the final Sunday for both the Group 10 and Group 11 competitions.

Both Tigers teams are on the cusp of creating history.

Sunday’s clash at Caltex Park, Dubbo, will mark the first time Nyngan has played in a Group 11 top grade grand final. Ever.

Former NRL player Stewart Mills has done a tremendous job in helping the club reach new heights.

While Oberon – once a Country Rugby League powerhouse that won 10 out of 11 premierships throughout the 1960s and ‘70s – hasn’t played in a game this big for four decades.

Sunday’s Group 10 premier league decider at Wade Park will be the Tigers’ first since 1975.

Ex-NRL pivot Luke Branighan has lifted his Tigers to incredible heights during the finals.

The symmetry in both sides is too hard to ignore.

Both clubs have captain-coaches in their first years with the club that boast NRL experience, while both will be looking to snap sizable premiership droughts.

The other similarity is the two sides standing in the way of these mighty Tigers outfits.

Nyngan takes on Dubbo CYMS while Oberon plays Orange CYMS.

Everywhere you look this week, it’s been Tigers-CYMS, CYMS-Tigers.

This year’s decider will be Dubbo CYMS’ seventh straight Group 11 grand final appearance – you can count three titles in that stretch.

Mick Sullivan’s Orange CYMS have appeared in grand finals in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 leading into this weekend’s Group 10 decider. There’s four premierships on the wall at Kelly’s Rugby Hotel from that period.

So while Sunday’s games mark incredible firsts for both Tigers clubs, it’s a case of been there, done that, for their opposition.

But that’s what Tigers footy thrives on, and who doesn’t love an underdog?

History won’t be wearing black and gold on Sunday, but you can bet your bottom dollar the bulk of the crowds at Wade Park and Caltex Park will be.