Wagga Tigers and East Wagga-Kooringal will have their premiership status put to the test on Saturday at the Kapooka 12s tournament.
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Organisers invited the Riverina League and Farrer League premiers, along with Army sides from Kapooka and Bandiana (ASEME) and a Navy outfit from HMAS Cerberus.
Tigers coach Shaun Campbell will lead a crack outfit of players from across their three grades, including leading goalkicker John Buchanan, grand final best-on-ground Shaun Flanigan, as well as John Anstee, Dylan Morton, Sam Lucas and Fraser Yates.
They’ll play EWK first up, who will include league medallist Nick Hull, grand final star James Hodges and veteran midfielder Nathan Scott.
The Hawks are also looking at drafting in GGGM star James Lawton to fill the hole left by their departed full-forward Marc Geppert.
Full-back Tim Smith will play against his EWK teammates after being switched to the Kapooka team but said he’ll agitate for a late switch if, as tipped, the Hawks and Tigers meet in the final.
Saturday’s Defence Bank Kapooka sport series will also feature netball, water polo and rugby league and is open to spectators.
The 12s tournament begins at 9.30am, with Tigers and EWK to meet at 10am. The games are played in 12-minute halves.
The tournament will wrap up with a third place play-off at 3.30pm and final at 4pm.