The Tigers have picked up veteran backrower Matt Wakefield for the remainder of the 2017 premier league season.

Wakefield was captain-coaching Group 2 club Sawtell as late as early June, but a post on the Panthers’ club’s Facebook page on June 21 announced he was stepping down from the post.

His clearance on the Group 10 website was lodged on the same day, and then cleared the next, on June 22. 

Wakefield lined up for the Tigers in the club’s big 32-6 win over the Magpies at Cowra on Sunday, and Branighan said Oberon’s newest enforcer was set to inch the black and golds to within title contention.

“We’re a step below those two teams at the moment, but our aim is to get that third spot and get two bites at the cherry (come finals time),” Branighan said.

The former NRL half played junior rugby league with Wakefield and then again at a senior level while at Group 9 club Young.

He said his arrival at Oberon from Sawtell stems from a desire to reignite his love for the game.

“He wasn’t enjoying his footy and he let us know he was available. He’s one of the better backrowers in bush footy,” Branighan said.

“When we played those top sides the biggest thing I noticed was size, and we lacked a little bit there. It’s an area we identified.

“Having Matt join us will really add to our pack and compliment the players we’ve got in the forwards already.”

The Tigers travel to Lithgow for Saturday’s clash, one that makes the Workies club’s 60^th anniversary celebrations.

Playing Workies at Lithgow is never an easy assignment, regardless of where the club sits on the ladder, and Branighan was backing Chris Rhodes to have his eighth-placed outfit up for the anniversary celebrations.

“It’s not going to be easy at Lithgow,” he added.

“I thought the boys played well the last time we met but we’ll have to be even better at Lithgow.”