The 2025 champions of the Gunnedah Times NRL footy tipping competition will soon experience a grand final getaway.
The competition champs have won return flights, tickets to the grand final at Accor Stadium next month, and to top it off five-star accommodation at Paradox Sydney.
It was Expressway Spares who claimed top prize out of the 18 business houses.
This was only its second year being a part of the competition but rose quickly to the top three.
Expressway Spares Gunnedah manager Anthony Smith admitted he hadn’t really been checking the leaderboard in the paper, until someone had notified him they he was doing well.
“It is pretty exciting,” he said.
He was also doing well in his work competition but unfortunately changed some of his tips recently, knocking him off the top spot there.
“This is just as good,” he said.
In the reader’s corner Stephen Woodward won for the second time.
He was previously the Gunnedah Times reader champion in 2023, and not much has changed on his opinion of the contest.
“It is a great competition,” Mr Woodward said.
“I know other people [participating] who think it is also great.”
He experienced the 2023 grand final with son Damian, which was their first time in Sydney’s city centre together.
His strategy has been to always pick the tips on Monday, go with his gut and stick with it.
Mr Woodward purposely didn’t look at suspensions, injuries or the team list.
Although doesn’t know if he will win the competition next year, his track record has proven 2027 may be a good possibility.
The Gunnedah Times will now host ‘Finals Fever’ for the leaderboard’s top-eight footy tippers. Meanwhile, all business houses will also be competing for the final positions.
Sports journalist Liam Hauser (right) congratulating reader Stephen Woodward on winning the Gunnedah Times NRL Footy Tipping Reader Competition.
