Without a strong base of Oberon juniors to draw on, the Tigers were forced to look at 'importing' players to be competitive in Group 10. With that came a financial strain.

It was a strain that proved too much.

In November 2019, nine years after the Tigers had returned to Group 10, they made the agonising decision to withdraw.

Even then there were questions surrounding player numbers - would the Tigers find enough locals to be able to field a senior men's and women's league tag outfit in the Mid West Cup?

But the Tigers got on the paddock.

The men went on to win the grand final - making it the Tigers' first senior men's premiership in 17 years - while the league tag outfit experienced finals for the first time.

Just as importantly, the Oberon community rallied behind their Tigers.

In the opinion of men's coach Dallas Booth, the return to the Mid West League was exactly what the Tigers needed. It kept rugby league in Oberon alive.

"Obviously going that step back from Group 10 was disappointing on several levels and we did get some criticism from other people, but from a club point of view we didn't have a choice, it was that or not get a side," he said.

"No-one wanted to see footy die in Oberon.

"We didn't have the players for a Group 10 side or the money. To be honest Oberon had to pay more money that a lot of clubs just to be competitive in Group 10 - the team that last played in Group 10 was five locals and 12 bought players.

"I mean while playing first grade should be your number one desire as a footy club and as a footy player, we tried it and as club we just couldn't sustain that amount of money to stay competitive."

READ MORE: Christie Johnston and Taggart win Oberon's best and fairest awards

READ MORE: After 17 years, Oberon title drought has come to an end

READ MORE: Oberon's 2020 was was about more than a premierships success

Booth was proud to claim that every member of his side this season was an Oberon product.

Some of the Tigers finest like Blake Fitzpatrick and Josh Rivett returned after initially intending to spend 2020 with other clubs.

Others who had played Group 10 premier league, like Luke Christie-Johnston, stuck with the Tigers, a number of who had previously only played reserve grade got a taste of the first 13, while young guns got their chance too.

It was a good mix. The Tigers were the undefeated minor premiers and while falling at home in the major semi-final, bounced back to qualify for the decider and then beat CSU on grand final day.

Along the way they created excitement within the Oberon community.

"After coming back into this second division and winning the comp, and it was a competitive competition, having footy on a Saturday afternoon and that barbecue and beers after footy that you don't have in first grade that often, that got a lot of people excited," Booth said.

"The junior kids started watching on a Saturday afternoon too and they were getting excited for it. Hopefully that will lead to us getting our junior base up and going again."

Booth said the Tigers are happy to remain in the Mid West League for 2021 and have no immediate plans to return to Group 10.

But aware there have been discussions about changing the structure of competitions within the Western Rams region, such as a merger between Group 10 and Group 11, Booth knows the Tigers could head in new direction.

"There's no secrets about the direction Group 10 will take in the next couple of years with all the talk with a Group 11 merge. It's probably something that needs to be done and it's something that is probably going to be good for football," Booth said.

"It could be good for us in the long run depending on which way it goes, but now, for a smaller club like us, the second division comp is definitely what suits us at the moment.

"One of the options that has been discussed would be clubs around our size playing each other, that would be your Cargos, Manildra, Canowindra, that could make it a stronger comp and an even comp. I'm sure there'll be plenty of talk between now and 2022."