Taking in all that Group Nine has to offer with the Maher Cup clash between Tumut and Gundagai at Twickenham on Saturday, Trodden is thrilled to be a part of a big day for the sport.

Group Nine have lost Cootamundra this season, after they elected to join the George Tooke Shield, while Junee withdrew from first grade just weeks out from the season.

It comes as Tumbarumba went into recess in 2018 before joining, and winning, the Murray Cup the following year.

Competitions the state are going through upheaval after most didn't play in 2020 due to coronavirus concerns but the clash in Tumut between last year's grand finalists in front of a strong crowd gives Trodden confidence rugby league has an important place in communities across the state.

"Country rugby league is fine," Trodden said.

"Country rugby league is changing as regional NSW is changing but there are plenty of vibrant communities in regional NSW and there are plenty of really hard working, committed volunteers.

"People underestimate the importance community sport has for local communities and if we ever needed a reminder we got it last year with COVID.

"These sort of things unite the whole community, they reinvigorate the whole community and energise the whole community.

"All these guys are here having a great afternoon and will go to work on Monday with a smile on their faces and hopefully they will be back next week for another installment."

Trodden believes there are so many positives to come out of the clash.

Even if he thought the 30-12 win by Tumut was fitting to the occasion.

"It was a fantastic game of footy and it's amazing how people rise to occasions," Trodden said.

"Tumut put such a lot of effort into making it a really special day so they deserved to get the outcome they did because of the effort they made to promote the game and uniting the whole community."

With both clubs celebrating their centenary seasons, they played off for the Mager Cup, just like they did in the first challenge 100 years ago.

Trodden thought it was great to bring the rich history of the competition back into the forefront of new generations of rugby league supporters.

"They are always special games and they had four special games last year including the grand final so there is a great rivalry but great rivalries don't just happen. They are built on traditions and the Maher Cup is one of those traditions that rivalry has been built on so it doesn't hurt to remind people of those things," he said.