Nic Syron and Kobe Bone: A special moment occurred when Norths and Manilla met on Sunday

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.

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"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."

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