Manildra's young pack stood up in its season opener against Cargo on Sunday, in the absence of captain-coach Simon Osborne the young Rhinos simply had to.
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Hard, tough and more than happy to mix it with the Blue Heelers' big boys, the likes of Jack Gibson, Harrison Gersbach and Mitch Gallagher led from the front as the 2018 Woodbridge Cup runners-up produced a commanding 42-18 win at Jack Huxley Oval.
From the outset the Rhinos looked on top of their derby rivals and that willingness to dominate through the middle of the field was maintained for virtually the entire 80 minutes.
Young prop Jack Gibson normally has a pretty handy foil in the form of Osborne, an ex-NSW Residents frontrower seemingly getting better with age.
The Rhinos leader was away for the club's opening game of the 2019 season, though, and Gibson said he was more than willing to stand up in that absence.
"For sure, Ozzie's a big part of the team and it's our responsibility to step up in his absence," the 22-year-old said.
It's a simple game ... I'd rather be on the middle than on the edges.
- Manildra prop Jack Gibson.
"It's our job, it's a simple game ... I'd rather be on the middle than on the edges."
Gibson travels up from Canberra to be part of the club, one his family has plenty of ties to, and he said the entire playing group was determined to go one step better than last year's heart-breaking 26-22 loss to Trundle in the 2018 grand final.
"That's the aim of the game. Trundle's a good side though and we've got plenty of respect for them, and everyone else," he said.
"As we play more minutes we'll gel more. There's a few new combinations, you're always rusty at the start."
One of those new combinations is down the Rhinos left edge but centre Mitch Hutchings hasn't taken long to fire in red and white.
The reigning Woodbridge Cup leading point scorer has made the switch from Eugowra to Manildra and scored two tries and booted five goals to help the Rhinos over Cargo, a first-up winner last week but a "messy" team in round two according to coach Anthony Redfern.
The Blue Heelers found themselves down 22-0 after 24 minutes but scored the next try thanks to Chris Jones.
They then let the ensuing kick-off find touch, however, and a Lachlan Sharp try for the hosts kicked the Rhinos back out to a 26-6 lead at the break.
The Heelers just couldn't sustain any pressure with the ball, it was their battle all game.
The two sides went try-for-try during the second period but the Rhinos iced their first win of the new season with a couple of late daggers down Hutchings left side, Zac Reimer and the new Rhinos' gun each bagging late four-pointers.
"It's better playing with him than against him," Gibson said of Hutchings.
"He caused us a bit of grief over at Eugowra last year, he scored every point against us. We won't forget that day but he's on our side now."
Redfern's stat sheet wasn't pretty reading and the new Cargo coach said his side completed just six sets all game.
"You can't win a game getting to your kick on just six occasions," the injured skipper lamented.
"Trundle and Manildra are the sides to beat but you can't win the comp in April. We'll be okay.
"We're messy. Just getting any continuity is hard. I thought all-in-all the boys turned up and went well."
Earlier in the day, the defending league tag champions battled against the improving Rhinos in a thrilling 16-14 Cargo victory
- MANILDRA RHINOS 42 (Mitch Hutchings 2, Josh Annis-Brown, Jayden Fahy, Brock Campbell, Lachlan Sharp, Jack Gibson, Zac Reimer tries; Hutchings 5 goals) def CARGO BLUE HEELERS 18 (Chris Jones, Trev Campbell, Ash Brown tries; Trev Campbell 3 goals)