The Tigers applied to step back into the top grade and their wish was granted at Group 10’s annual general meeting in Bathurst on Sunday.

Other matters decided at the annual general meeting were:

n The grand final will be held on Sunday, September 16.

n There will be no byes in the premier league division.

n The Group 10 executive was re-elected in all positions.

n Prize money has been reduced by 25 per cent to $15,000.

n Clubs were put on notice to reinforce the Code of Conduct.

But it’s the return of Oberon to premier league that had clubs looking forward to the 2012 season.

Not since 2007 has Oberon played premier league football.

The past three seasons Oberon has been floating between the Centennial Coal Cup, and Group 10’s first division and under 18s competitions.

Oberon’s Linore Zamparini, who starts his fifth year as Group 10 president, said having the Tigers back in premier league had been long overdue.

“It’s terrific to have them back,” Zamparini said. “At this stage they are to give [player] numbers to the Group before Christmas.”

The Tigers were once the kings of the competition.

Between 1960 and 1971 they played in 12 Group 10 grand finals, winning 10 of them.

Their last first grade premiership was in 1975.

Zamparini said if the Tigers hadn’t made their move back into premier league, they could have become extinct.

“If they didn’t do it this year then they would have found it hard to field a [premier league] team again,” he said.

Former St Pat’s captain-coach Wade Judd has been earmarked to lead the Tigers back onto the field.

Centennial Coal Cup club Blackheath Black Cats will field a team in the Group 10 under 18s competition. The Black Cats could also possibly field a first division team.

If that is the case, there will be nine teams in the lower competitions.

“Teams would have to back-up on some weekends. It’s not the greatest result, but what can you do?,” Zamparini said.

“Hopefully those teams can get a first grade side and we can have nine teams in premier league.”

Zamparini said the group would be reinforcing the game’s code of conduct and come down hard on clubs, players, officials and spectators that fail to adhere to.

He said he doesn’t want to see a repeat of last season when the Orange derby between CYMS and Hawks was called off 25 minutes from full-time because of a wild brawl which resulted in Group 10 referee Nathan Blanchard being physically assaulted by a spectator.