O'Brien, who owns the iconic Hot Bake bakery in the heart of the city, is the uncle of gun Southcity second-rower Nick Skinner  – and has the shop decked out in the Bulls colours.

"I'm married to Nick's mum's sister, and the whole family supports Southcity," O'Brien said yesterday.

"It'd be great if they (Southcity) could beat Albury.

"That wouldn't be half bad."

Nick Skinner's family ties with O'Brien's business in Wagga are as strong today as they were when worked part-time in the bakery as a "junior".

Significantly, Nick's mother Janette has also been working in the popular shop for much longer.

"My brother and I bought the business off a couple of German guys in 1978," O'Brien recalled yesterday.

"I've been here for 36 years and Janette has worked at the business for 30 years.

"We've been around a long time."

And all the while he had been following the career of his football-playing nephew.

"We all got a big thrill watching Nick play for Manly on the TV last year," O'Brien said.

"Now he's back in Wagga it's great to watch him play for Southcity.

"He's really raring to go.

"It should be a really good game."

Mirroring the growth of his business, O'Brien says he has followed the development of Southcity into a football force in Wagga.

"We all remember Magpies and Turvey Park, and how they've become Southcity," he said.

"The club has definitely come a long way."

Southcity was formed in 2005 after the merger of Wagga clubs Magpies and Turvey Park – and Nick Skinner was there from the start.

Group Nine grand final

When: 3pm Sunday

Where: Equex Centre