GUNDAGAI'S front row stocks have suffered another hit with two more key forwards leaving the Tigers.
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Fresh on the heels of boom Kiwi prop Rulon Nutira joining St George Illawarra, news has broken that Kieran Pearce and Trent Skeers have also cut ties with Gundagai.
Tigers captain-coach Cameron Woo yesterday confirmed Pearce and Skeers would be moving to the south coast to play in 2015.
"Yes, Pearcy is going to Merimbula-Pambula in Group 16 to coach and Trent is moving there as well to finish his apprenticeship and to play football," Woo said.
"Kieran coached Bega Roosters in the same competition in 2011."
The unexpected loss of Pearce and Skeers is a further setback for the Tigers, who have just farewelled Nutira to the NRL.
In between times, however, Gundagai pulled off the significant signing of dual Country representative forward Naseri Naseri.
Groomed for rugby league in Griffith, Naseri represented Country in 2011 and 2012 before playing for the Illawarra Cutters in the NSW Cup competition in 2013.
Despite landing the gun running forward, the Tigers are already down three of the four front rowers they used on a rotation basis this year.
Skeers and Pearce, who made a late start to the premiership because of injury, were a great foil for Nutira and Vince Brown up front.
Amid the losses, Brown has signed on for 2015 and is expected to take on a leadership role in the pack.
At a time when front rowers are in demand in Group Nine, New Zealand powerhouse Jaye Pukepuke has confirmed he could be in the market for a club in the region.
Pukepuke, 34, played alongside Nutira in the New Zealand Moari team against a Queensland selection on the Gold Coast last week.
At least three Group Nine clubs have been mentioned as possible candidates to chase Pukepuke.
Interestingly, there are also rumours of one Group Nine coach being replaced during the off-season.