After playing a 10-all draw against Bathurst and defeating Yenda 10-6, Thunder bowed out in the semi-finals with a 10-4 loss to Gundagai.

But Jackson said the showing against the Tigers was their best.

“I thought we got better with each game,” Jackson said.

“Gundagai was our best game.

“Everyone played better as a team against Gundagai as we worked well together in defence and attack and the urgency was much better.

“I was happy with that.”

Levi Freeman was the stand-out for Thunder.

He made a handful of barnstorming runs during the knockout and put Jackson over the line for his two tries.

“I thought Levi was outstanding for us,” Jackson said.

“He and Dave (Cowhan) and Smithy (Andrew) and pretty much the whole forward pack really stepped up.

“We just have to get our combos together.

“There is still a lot of stuff we need to work on.”

Although Albury Thunder came through the knockout without any major injury concerns, Lachie Hampton (leg) and Ziggy Kennedy (shoulder) missed the semi-final.

Thunder’s next hit-out will be against Leeton at Leeton on March 11.

Gundagai went on to defeat Group 9 rivals Southcity 16-4 in the final.

With the scores locked at four-all at half-time, the Tigers exploded into action with Tyron Gorman scoring a double in the second-half.

Former Thunder coach Ben Jeffery’s new side Kangaroos bowed out in the opening round with a 10-6 loss to Woden.