AT just 19, Orange Emus lock Ben Parkes is too young to remember the last time the Greens won the Blowes Menswear Cup.

And while the Emus are still a long way off winning anything yet, Emus player-coach Matt Greatbatch believes Parkes, along with a number of Emus’ young stars, is among the next generation set to get them there.

“We’ve got the basis of a very strong team there at the moment,” said Greatbatch, whose side face the daunting task of hosting premiers Narromine tomorrow at Endeavour Oval.

“They’re young and they are all damn good players.

“And they’re mates, too. They’ll be a very good side in a couple of years’ time.”

Parkes’ youth and enthusiasm has helped the Greens win their last three matches, keeping alive their hopes of making the competition’s top five.

However, Emus sit eight points behind the fifth-placed Dubbo Roos and must win their remaining two matches against the Gorillas and Parkes and rely on Dubbo Roos losing both of theirs to make the play-offs.

Parkes said his first full year of first grade has been tough but enjoyable.

“It’s a lot more organised than last year,” Parkes said.

“It’s a bit quicker than colts. And being so physical it’s good having a few bigger guys around in the forwards.”

The lanky lock has dominated just about every opponent he’s come up against this year but will face a tough ask against a number of Narromine’s Country Cockatoos, namely star No.8 Lachie McCutcheon.

Parkes said his side would draw on their 34-12 victory over Narromine at Cale Oval in round eight to get the job done.

“They’ve got a few Country players in their side which I don’t think they had last time we played but that win will give us some confidence,” Parkes said.

“They have a big forward pack, too, but our scrum has been dominant all year and the set piece has been strong.

“We’ll need to stick to our structures like we did last game. Keep the game at our pace.”

Greatbatch was confident his young forward was up to the challenge.

“He’s been very good for us - a standout in the line-out,” Greatbatch said.

“When you have guys like (CSU Bathurst captain) Nick Hughes-Clapp and (Bathurst Bulldogs’) Matt Waterford, two of the competition’s best jumpers, come off the field at full-time and say this bloke (Parkes) has smoked them you know he’s playing well.

“He’s about six stone wringing wet but he has a great motor.

“His work rate around the park is outstanding.”

However, Greatbatch was wary of an in-form Gorillas side.

“It’s going to be a different ball game this time. They have class across the board,” he said.

“Fast backs, big forwards. If we can deny them of possession then we’ll be in with a chance.”

Emus take on the Gorillas from 3.15pm tomorrow at Endeavour Oval.

n ORANGE EMUS: 1 Mark Kingham, 2 Al Hattersley (c), 3 John Ellis, 4 Harley McAllister, 5 Ben Parkes, 6 Tom Goolagong, 7 Mick Goodall, 8 Keith Howarth, 9 Harry Fardell, 10 Mitch Evers, 11 Isaac White, 12 Andrew Swain, 13 Andrew Swain, 14 Joel Plummer, 15 Tom Hattersley.