It's tough being a Tiger, let's just put it that way.

And, with seven rounds remaining before this year's finals series begins, as it stands, the brightest note for all Tigers fans has been Kevin Naiqama's impressive flat-top and the unveiling of some fairly ordinary Marvel jerseys (War Machine, seriously?).

For all the obvious talent - Tedesco has been brilliant, Taupau devastating and Woods mesmerising - the results just haven't come.

And maybe that's the problem.

Since Luke Brooks burst onto the seen in 2013 with a seemingly endless production line of talented Tiger cubs to follow, everyone in the NRL has just expected the joint-outfit to flower into the game's next rugby league dynasty.

Don't worry, the big wigs say, it'll happen.

Well, it hasn't.

And, sadly, it pains me to say it doesn't look likely.

I fear the only dynasty I'll be watching on my television in the near future will be of the duck variety, but who could say no to the Robertsons fabricating duck calls and decoys out of salvaged swamp wood in Louisiana? 

Waaaaak wak wak waaak.

It's gripping stuff.

My point is this: talent alone isn't going to get the Tigers, or anyone who dreams of success, anywhere.

And while 2015 has been a strong one for the sporting teams of Orange thus far, now is the time hard work begins to pay off.

We're just five weeks away from the end of the regular season in the Blowes Clothing Cup, four weeks away in the Group 10 competition and the Central West AFL flag race while the women's Premier League Hockey premiership will begin its finals series on August 15.

My college Matt Findlay wrote a column at the end of April saying Orange teams would waltz through this year's winter sports competitions.

Findlay's still banking on bathing in premierships come September.

And, talent has ensured each of Emus, City, CYMS, Tigers and Ex-Services are all a chance of enabling that dream to come to fruition.

City has dropped just one game through 13 rounds this season, while Emus sit second.

CYMS, too, have lost just once.

The Tigers stumbled a fortnight ago, but we still think Nathan Pearce's side are morals to secure a history-making flag three-peat come the end of September.

And Ex-Servies? Well, it looks as though the blue and gold girls may well be hitting their straps at the right time of year.

The potential for a brilliant end to 2015 awaits.

And we're about to find out which sides have been prepared to do the hard work while the others sit back and expect it to come.

I know one thing's for sure.

As a Tiger, it's going to be a long time before I bust out a Laurie Nicholls shadow box for anything other than an Aaron Woods re-tweet #zilla.