The Lions have battled on the field and at times off it as well, they’ve been anchored to the bottom of the table virtually all season, have been out of finals contention for some time and, with a fortnight to go in their campaign, still have just one win to their name.

At times during the start of the year the Lions competed with the top sides and actually downed third-placed Dubbo Kangaroos with a stunning comeback in round five, but as their rivals improved Orange City seemed to fall further away and that’s not been any more obvious than in the last month.

In their last four defeats combined, Orange City has lost 275-17, conceding less than 50 in just one of those defeats. The Lions have let in 123 more points in the last month than competition leaders Orange Emus have all season.

One massive thing the Lions players and coaches have made no secret of is a lack of commitment off the field, in terms of training, and that’s showed.

But there’s been one unanimous message the competition’s other captains and coaches have continually echoed this year – there is light at the end of the tunnel.

That’s largely due to the young talent in the club at the moment.

In the top grade the likes of Josh Nagle, Luke Stunden, Lachie Lingley, Hayden Leopold, Tom Westcott and Darcy Holmes have all shown they’re capable albeit inexperienced, while Nick Fisher, Hayden Goodall and Tom West are exceptional talents in the Lions’ colts side.

Some of the club’s most senior players are guys like Tom Nell, Logan Brockmann, Sam Dwyer and Ben Swadling, they’re all still young as well.

It’s message Dubbo Kangaroos skipper Shaun McHugh backed up once again on Saturday after his side dispatched of the Lions 72-5 at Pride Park, urging the proud and celebrated club to stick at it despite its disappointing 2018 campaign.

"They've got the base there and if there's young blokes who are willing to step and play two games in one day, then they've got to hold on to them because they're the future of the club,” McHugh said, referring to Orange City’s colts who have regularly backed up this year.

“That’s massive and they’ve got good young players and a good culture in those blokes, they’re just lacking something.

“It’s hard to comment because I don’t know all that’s going on and what happens at training but there’s a lot of good blokes there and they’re a proud club.”

The Lions will finish their top grade season with trips to Cowra and Bathurst to face the Eagles and Bulldogs, respectively.