Playing in that match five years ago was Simon Wallace, a man who is one of this year's assistant coaches. His wife Chris is the team's manager.

He's also a life member of the Leeton Phantoms Rugby Union Club and, along with his family, has been heavily involved with the club for countless years.

"It's a completely different year with everything that has happened with COVID ... we weren't even sure we'd have the numbers to be competitive just a couple of weeks out from the season," Wallace said.

"It's turned out really good. Two weeks before play started I was going to play, but thankfully there's enough numbers that I haven't had to.

"We're all really hopeful of getting the win on Saturday.

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"It would be a shame to go through the season undefeated and then go down in the grand final (against Albury)."

The Phantoms have enjoyed many years of ups and downs in the last five seasons.

That has included the second grade premiership, as well as first grade bringing home the silverware in a drought-breaking win in 2017.

Reflecting back on the second grade victory five years ago, Wallace was pleased to play a part.

"Getting towards the end of my career, that was great," he said.

"That was a year we had a really good mixture of older, experienced guys and younger, talented guys.

"A lot of the guys in that second grade team went on to play in first grade in the years after and a number of them were in that first grade side that won in 2017.

"It was a good building block that second grade side in 2015. I was obviously very proud to be involved with that team and premiership."

As most people who have been involved with football clubs, no matter the code, over the years, sometimes it's not just about the game itself.

Playing and winning is the aim of the game, but Wallace said the friendships he had formed over the years at the Phantoms was something he and his family hold dear.

"It's a really great club, a family club, that we have had the privilege to be a part of," he said.

Also playing a big part of clubs such as the Phantoms is the community getting right behind them.

Last week it was Leeton-Whitton's first grade and under 17s teams that saw the town cheer them on, while this week it's all about the Phantoms and the Junior Crows.

"The good thing about Leeton is we all seem to get behind each other," Wallace said.

"I'm sure that will be the case again this weekend with the Phantoms.

"In the year it's been, it's nice to see that community sport can give people something to cheer for."