With these changes, many other aspects of the game have morphed over the years – rivalries included.

Tim Rice has witnessed it happen.

Rice first played senior football for the Waratahs in 2000 as a 16-year-old and hasn’t played for another Group 20 club.

Around the same time he started his first grade career, more and more players started to jump from club to club.

With it, the rivalry between the Waratahs and the Black and Whites was altered.

“With the player movement [the rivalry has changed]. When I first came through, you either played for Waratahs or Black and Whites,” Rice said.

“I think it came from the [Waratahs] old boys, they were never going to play for Black and Whites where these days it’s more of a business than it ever was before.”

While the rivalry may be different, it’s very much still there.

“There’s still a rivalry, you still mark it on your calendar every year,” Rice said.

“You don’t want to be the second team in Griffith.”

Rice hopes his teammates can carry that attitude into the match against the Black and Whites on Sunday at EW Moore Oval as they try to turn their season around.

The reigning premiers sit second last on the Group 20 ladder, having not won a game since round two and will need to go on a winning run if they are to make the top five.

“I feel like were starting to put it together slowly,” Rice said.

“Momentum’s a big thing in rugby league. You string a few wins together and you can really get going.

“We’re not far from that, we’re moving closer each week.”

The Black and Whites stand in their way.

The side sits in third position following back-to-back wins over a disjointed month of football.

The Black and Whites haven’t been perfect though and co-coach Craig Morriss said his players will need to be on their toes.

“We need to complete a bit more, pay a bit more attention to detail and watch our penalty count,” Morriss said.

“The Waratahs are getting towards desperation stakes and it gives them much more incentive this week.”