Click or flick across to see the festivities following Thunder's premiership win.
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ALBURY Thunder’s dynamic brotherly duo Mitch and Chris Seaton have paid tribute to their father Paul after claiming the Group 9 premiership.
Almost 30 years to the day after Paul tasted the ultimate success with the Albury Roos in 1983, the Seaton brothers etched another memory into the family photo album when the Thunder saluted over Gundagai 30-20.
Both won premierships last season — Chris with the Thunder and Mitch at Burleigh — but doing it together? Now, that’s something special.
“A few years ago, when Chris was on the motorbikes, we probably never even thought we’d play together, let alone do this,” Mitch, 23, said at yesterday’s celebrations.
“It’s been really good.
“Our old man did it 30 years ago, Chris did it last year and I did it in Queensland last year.
“But to do it together is something we can all share together and look back on when we’re a bit older.”
Chris, who has become a vital cog in the Thunder machine, said it meant a lot to the Seaton family.
“He’s heavily involved in the club and it’s probably a more proud moment for him,” Chris, 29, said.
“But as special as it was for him, it’s special for us because I get to share the moment with my brother.
“I love him to death.”
Meanwhile, Mitch, who returned to the Border from Queensland mid-year, paid tribute to the Thunder’s resolve after being put to the test.
The reigning premiers, who went into the match as favourites, trailed 8-16 after 30 minutes but refused to feel the pressure.
“The time off we had was a bit of a hurdle and the first 20 minutes were a bit of a battle,” Mitch confessed.
“But we just had to stick at it, and we did.”
His older brother agreed, saying the lack of game fitness — the Thunder played just one match in the month leading up to the decider — did affect their start.
“We did make a few errors because of a lack of ball in the last five weeks but we knew that if we stuck at it, we’d come back and we did,” he said.
“But, look, full credit to Tigers because they took it right to us.”
