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The breakthrough decision, which was splashed across the back page of The Daily Advertiser yesterday, is sure to have caused a degree of consternation across the region.

I'd say some of the good football folk in Cootamundra may have been the most annoyed, but others in other towns might also have been equally put out.

Well, they're entitled to their opinion, but I'm sure and positive the Group Nine board did the right and proper thing.

Pure and simple, it would have been a classic miscarriage of justice had Wagga missed out on either game.

The facts are absolutely straightforward and I can't see any reasonable objection to them not being played in Wagga.

First and foremost, Brothers and Kangaroos have each earned the undeniable right to play a home final - it is their right of passage.

Kangaroos finished minor premier and the reward must be the opportunity to play the major semi-final at their home base.

In this case, that unequivocally means Equex Centre.

Seeing as Roos will be gunning to be the first team into the Group Nine grand final, it is only fair and correct they get to take a shot at it in Wagga.

The exact same reasoning can be equated to the situation regarding Brothers.

Last Saturday the Brethren played a cut-throat final against Lavington at Greenfield Park - and survived to talk about it.

The following day Junee beat Cootamundra at Willow Park to set up the super Saturday showdown with Brothers.

Honestly, how on earth anyone thinks Junee and Brothers should pack up and head to Fisher Park or Nixon Park or Hyde Park to play the game is totally beyond me - and obviously most of the Group Nine board.

Think about it - this is really a no-brainer.

Right, Junee got the chance to play a home final and successfully eliminated Cootamundra.

In contrast, Brothers played an "away" final and got rid of Lavington.

So, how come Brothers don't deserve to play in Wagga?

Yeah, there is no logical reason for this game to be played anywhere bar Equex Centre.

The suggestion that Cootamundra somehow "earned" the right to host a finals game at Fisher Park just doesn't hold water. The Bulldogs merely limped into top six in sixth position and were the first team out.

Get this straight - this isn't a "let's rip into Cootamundra" rant either.

It's a statement of football fact.

Brothers finished fifth on the table and should be entitled to play a home final, especially considering they've dumped out the fourth-placed team.

The same reasoning can be applied to Tumut if the Blues lose to Kangaroos on Sunday.

Tumut finished second on the ladder, so the club must get a home final - no question.

If this means they get to play either Junee or Brothers at Twickenham in the preliminary final, then so be it.

Obviously Tumut might win on Sunday, so the scenario could be different.

What about this? Brothers beat Junee and Tumut beats Kangaroos, therefore thrusting two Wagga teams into the preliminary final on Sunday week.

Surely common sense would dictate a game involving two Wagga teams vying for a place in the grand final should be played in Wagga.

I know I've already argued eloquently for Tumut to host a final at Twickenham, but there has to be some room for negotiation.

I'd imagine the difference at the gate between playing an all-Wagga game at Twickenham or Equex Centre would be astronomical.

And in these seriously trying financial times, Group Nine would have to think seriously about the bottom line.

Anyway, that's possibly down the track. Let's get past Saturday and Sunday before looking at other variables.

Right now I'm delighted the Group Nine board made a decision that is in the best interests of football in the region.

As much as the Group Nine clubs outside of Wagga believe the Wagga clubs can't draw a crowd for anything, I think the two games at the weekend will be packed houses.

Yeah, that means a gate of maybe $10,000 each, which is roughly double what they'd get at Hyde Park.