Dubbo Rhinos coach Dave Stuart said he “couldn’t be more proud” of the committed core group of players within his club as the men in gold approach their final game of the season.
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It hasn’t been an easy Blowes Clothing Cup year for the Rhinos, with injuries and player availability having a huge effect on the first grade side.
The lowest point came last month when the club was forced to forfeit all grades to the Cowra Eagles but there has been a bounce back in recent weeks and last round the Rhinos scored a drought-breaking win over the Parkes Boars.
This weekend sees Stuart’s men host the second-placed Forbes Platypi in the final round of the regular season.
Stuart said his side can be pleased it avoided the wooden spoon, a goal set out before the season started, but said a committed group of regulars can be more proud of the way it has fought and kept going this year.
“They’re the backbone of the club and the core group. Guys like Kane Rich and (captain) Jordan Davis. Josh Kearins, ‘Coolah’ (Brett Austin) and Matty Neill,” he said, before speaking about what he wants this weekend.
“You’d love to finish with a win but in the last few weeks we’ve been getting back to the play and structure we had at the start of the year.
“I’d like to see us really push and finish well. The boys are really stepping up in defence and I’d love to see another effort right through (the game) and if we’re in it at any stage then we keep pushing.”
One last strong effort on Saturday will not only ensure Stuart and his players can finish the season with a smile on their face, it also bodes well for 2018, according to the coach.
“Heading into next year, with some of this late-season recruitment, hopefully some strong performances will help keep them here and I don’t know what the competition structure will be but it’s good we got back and picked up a win and picked up our performances,” he said.
“That will stand us in good stead for next season.”
There is much conjecture about how the Blowes Clothing Cup will look in 2018, a number of clubs have called for a two-tier competition to be created, but Stuart said every option must be strongly considered and scrutinised before implemented.
“What’s happened this year (with player availability issues) is something we’ll have to look at and see where we’re at,” he said.
“But hopefully we fight to stay in the top grade and Central West Rugby can come up with something that helps clubs develop and rebuild while staying in the competition.
“Obviously there’s a gap now between the top and bottom but you get that in every competition and it only takes a few players coming into a club in the off-season to turn a pretty poor year into a cracking one.”
Forbes heads into the match knowing a win will guarantee it a second-placed finish.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 3.15pm at Caltex Park.