With the scores locked at 24-all, the visitors perfected a move they've been practicing at training for a 30-24 win.

"That's really pleasing when you plan set plays and you put them on and they come off," coach Adrian Purtell said.

"All the boys are pretty happy about that."

When quizzed further, Purtell was happy to keep the move a secret.

"We don't want to give too much away, we might keep that in the back pocket," he laughed.

Although Thunder went into the game as favourites, it was always going to be a challenge, given the Cherrypickers were playing for their season and it's a three-hour trip.

And the visitors knew they were in a battle when Young led 18-12 at half-time and gun lock Luke Ingram was off with a knee injury.

Pacy winger Keanu Wighton levelled the scores at the seven-minute mark of the second half, but the home team regained the ascendancy.

Barging back-rower Jon Huggett cut the margin back to two with a penalty goal to Curtly Jenkinson tying the match up with 10 minutes left.

Liam Wiscombe landed the match-winner with five minutes left.

"It was an enjoyable game actually," Purtell said.

"In terms of the fact we got over the line, it showed a lot of character, sometimes those wins can be more valuable than blowouts."

Huggett was superb, crashing his way through the Young pack and producing a number of strong hits in defence.

English front-rower Brad Nicholson continued his strong season, while fellow forward Matt Byatt also played well.

The win means Thunder still has a three-point break on the chasing pack in fourth spot.

Temora is the leading contender on eight points, with Wagga Brothers (six), Junee (six) and Wagga Kangaroos (five) in pursuit.

Thunder faces Kangaroos in round nine, after the Queen's Birthday long weekend bye, to round out the first half of the year.

Temora is away to Junee so if the Albury combination wins, as expected, and the Diesels upset Temora, Thunder would carry a five-point break into the second half of the season as it looks to play finals for the first time in three years.

Naturally, that's not an insurmountable lead, but Thunder would fancy its chances of a two and a half game break proving enough of a buffer in the race to a top four finish.