That coming together occurred at Jack Woolaston Oval on Sunday afternoon, when Syron's Manilla Tigers and Kobe Bone's North Tamworth Bears clashed in round one.

Beneath a heavenly blue sky, the duo posed post-match for a photo that lifelong friendships, fate and a love of footy conspired to arrange.

Read also:

"He's pretty much like my nephew," Syron, 35, said of Bone, 19. "I've known him since he was not much out of nappies, I reckon.

"I've watched him grow up playing footy his whole life. He's a freak at footy, that's for sure. And it was good to finally have a game against him."

No 9 Syron and No 13 Bone went "back and forth at each other" on Sunday, the veteran rake said - just like the sides did in an absorbing first half, before Norths ran out winners 54-14.

It was Syron's first match for the Tigers and Bone's top-grade debut for Norths. Both men are former Central Coast first-graders.

Syron joined Manilla after playing for Dungowan last year, and after relocating to Tamworth from Blue Haven some four years ago.

"We just enjoyed coming here [Tamworth] visiting," Syron said. "And one day on the way home, I said to my wife: 'I wouldn't mind moving up here'. And she goes: 'Let's try it. What's the worst thing that can happen?'"

So that's what the couple did - bringing with them their children: Jaxon, 12, Naite, 10, and Airlee, 8.

"We like it here in Tamworth; it's a lot more relaxed and chilled back," said Syron, a truck driver. "We've made some good friends through work and playing footy."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: