Blake Dunn returns for Gundagai after cancer scare.

A Dubbo junior who came through the ranks at Dubbo CYMS, Dunn has been a regular in the Group 9 competition in the Riverina for roughly a decade.

He missed the first half of the 2021 Group 9 season after undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer but is now slowly working is way back to fitness.

The 33-year-old started a match for the Gundagai Tigers for the first time this season last week and said he had been touched by the outpouring of support from his club and wider community.

"It's good to be playing footy again and having some fun," Dunn said.

"It certainly makes you appreciate it a bit more."

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Now that he's back, Dunn wants to help the Tigers defend the title they won last season.

The versatile Dunn came off the bench in his first three games this season before coming into the starting side during last week's win over the Wagga Kangaroos.

He did miss their win over Temora a fortnight ago to welcome baby Bowie into the world but has retained his place in the starting side to tackle Young at Anzac Park on Sunday.

The second rower feels he's starting to get some match fitness back.

"I've been trying to build up the minutes," Dunn said.

"It's an ongoing battle to try to be fit enough to be where you want to be but I feel like I'm heading in the right direction.

"I know it is part of the process of getting back to being healthy."

After first noticing a problem late last year, Dunn needed surgery and radioactive iodine treatment.

Now he's approaching the time for his six-month check up and the whole process has put plenty of things into perspective.

"It was quite shocking but if you are going to get a cancer, thyroid cancer is probably one of the better ones to get," Dunn said.

"I feel pretty fortunate as a lot of people are a lot worse off than me."

Gundagai co-coach Luke Berkrey is thrilled to have Dunn back, especially as the club tries to overcome a couple of injury problems.

"It's great to having Blake back," Berkrey said.

"Everyone loves playing with Blake and he brings a different dimension to our team.

"He can be an extra half on the field at times or he can play very tough and be a real rock for us in defence.

"He's just starting to really warm into the season, he has been good the last couple of weeks and we're excited to keep him starting now."

Dunn was a Western Rams junior who won an under 18s title with CYMS who went on to play in Wollongong before moving to the Riverina.