Bush football revival: One of Group 9’s most successful clubs set for return in 2025

After a five-year stint away from the Group 9 competition, one of the league’s most successful teams is set to return in 2025. Here’s how the Bulldogs are planning to mark their Wagga comeback.

The Cootamundra Bulldogs are poised for a return to Group 9 in 2025. Picture: Cootamundra Rugby League Football Club FB

Five-year plans don’t always come to fruition, but one bush footy club is preparing to be rewarded for its patience.

The Cootamundra Bulldogs are set to return to the strong Group 9 competition next season after last taking part in the 2019 season.

The club which has produced first graders Les Boyd, Jack de Belin and Glen Buttriss over the years, has been playing in the George Tooke Shield, a third-tier competition in Canberra.

But now the time is right for a comeback to first grade in the Wagga-based competition, much to the delight of coach David Buttriss.

“It’s pretty special for me to be able to move back to Coota and coach the local team that I grew up to love,” he said.

“I played all of my junior footy there, left when I was 18 and came back for a few years with some good mates of mine.”

He admits it was a tough decision to initially pull out of Group 9, and a call that wasn’t very popular.

Cootamundra has a storeyed history in rugby league, including winning the Maher Cup in 1923. Photo: Wal Gavin Collection

However it will prove the right one if they can field teams in first grade, reserve grade, open women, U18s and U16s.

“We made the decision five years ago and had a five-year plan to get back into Group 9,” he said.

“All going well we will have five teams in that competition and start to rebuild.

“It was a tough decision and a lot of people around town didn’t want us to do it, but we were in a position where we had to.

“We’ve had some great times in the Tooke Shield and our juniors have really hung in there despite travelling to other towns to play.

“It will be so good to have everyone back together on the same day and the support around town will be good.”

Cootamundra won the last of it’s nine titles in 2005 when downing the Tumut Blues.

While they’re not expecting to make it 10 in their return season, Buttriss hopes they give a regular competitive account of themselves.

The Cootamundra community has welcomed Fijian workers in recent years in a boost for the Bulldogs (pictured from L-R are Kemueli Roko, Nemani Lui, Ilai Taka and Inia Mate). Picture: Brad Newman

“I’d love for us to field five teams every weekend,” he said.

“We hope to get through the season with as many wins as possible and see the big crowds in Coota again.

“Everyone that played last season has put their hand to go around again. We’re looking to attract a couple of big boys to help out next season.

“We’ve had a small committee over the last five years that have done a tremendous job. We’ve had a lot of people put their hand up to help out heading back into Group 9.”