Regular powerhouses have continued to dominate and some sides have struggled, while there was a fierce battle for the minor premiership and the top four.

As well as that, a host of new players came into the competition and put their names up in lights.

With finals have begun, the coming weeks will see Australian Community Media journalists from across the Central West take a look at each side as it is knocked out of the running.

We'll look at the good, the bad, the sometimes funny, and even a little bit of the ugly. All while analysing what has happened and what is to come.

We continue the series with a look the side which fell one game short of a grand final appearance, the Cowra Eagles.

BLOWES CLOTHING CUP EXIT SURVEYS: Orange City | Dubbo Kangaroos | Forbes Platypi

NICK GUTHRIE (Daily Liberal): Quality without reaching the next level. Which has been Cowra's story in recent years. So close to breaking into top bracket but still just a rung below the top two.

BEN RODIN (Cowra Guardian): A season of two halves. Extremely promising start followed by struggles with forms and injury, and this was mirrored in their two finals performances.

MICHELLE COOK (Central Western Daily): A roller-coaster. One minute they're pushing and beating the top sides, next they're struggling in games they should be winning.

GUTHRIE: As expected for me. I thought they might push Bulldogs and Emus a little more and to some extent they did during the regular season. But the top two remain too good for the Eagles. There was a lot of hype around the Eagles before the season and a grand final spot would have been the goal but top three is acceptable.

RODIN: As expected. The year started promisingly, but the longer it wore on, the more evident it became that the Eagles can't cut it against this week's grand finalists.

COOK: In making the preliminary final, Cowra did better than I expected. The times I watched them play they had moments of brilliance but I didn't see a full 80 minutes that I thought would challenge teams like Bulldogs and Emus at the business end of the season. I take my hat off to them for making the prelim final.

GUTHRIE: Winning the first four games of the year was a real statement from the club. One of those wins was over defending premiers Orange Emus in a show of strength and power. The hype was alive and those results were proof this was a side to be taken seriously in 2019.

RODIN: It sounds weird, since it was a loss, but the Eagles' clash with the Bathurst Bulldogs back in round five was a superb game of footy and showed the Eagles have got what it takes to match it with the Emus and Bulldogs if everything is going their way.

COOK: I was impressed by their comeback against Orange City in round 11. The Eagles were behind on more than one occasion but were able to remain focused under pressure, fight their way back and deserved to win that one.

GUTHRIE: Obviously everyone knows the real disappointment and the Josh Tremain incident was one of the worst moments in central west rugby for a numbers of years. I'm going to stick to on-field matters and it was the inconsistency.

Not long after winning four straight the Eagles went on a run of five losses in six games, with the only victory in that time a scrappy four-point victory over a battling Orange City side. It was a real drop in form and ultimately clost the Eagles a top two spot.

RODIN: We'll keep it footy focused, but the back half of the season; where the Eagles' form fluctuated and they fell from second to third, and nearly could've finished fourth, would've been frustrating for the faithful, while the first half of the Emus loss last week would've left a bitter after-taste.

COOK: I'd say it was the inconsistency. They could match it with the top sides but couldn't deliver that sort of performance every week.

GUTHRIE: Gonzalo Carrizo is one of the best players to watch in the competition. Silky skills and clearly good fun around the side too.

Bill Cummins is definitely one of the most underrated players in the competition as well, while Troy Jeffs has stepped up to become one of the top playmakers and leaders in the competition. There was a lot to like about the Eagles this season.

RODIN: Gonzalo Carrizo's direction from full back was crucial to many of his team's wins throughout the year, while Joe Dakuitoga and Chris Miller, were highlights among the forwards.

COOK: It's hard to go past captain Tim Berry. If you want someone to lead by example, he's your man. He has the ability to get the best out of the players no matter the situation.

Fullback Gonzalo Carizzo stood out thanks to a memorable moment during his side's round 11 win over Orange City. He lined up a conversion on the right sideline and during his approach the wind blew the ball off the tee. Without hesitation Carizzo picked up the ball, drop-kicked it and nailed it straight over the middle of the cross-bar.

GUTHRIE: As a smaller centre in a competition largely made of teams from regional cities Cowra is already up against it a little. Some may say they just should be happy with top three finishes because on paper that's a big effort. However, this side is capable of going even further. Keeping the same core group of leaders around is a must. There's few better coaches than Col Jeffs around so having his influence there in some way is vital.

RODIN: This is a good question. A better run with injury would be fantastic, but there is probably a larger existential question for the Eagles: How do they bridge the gap to the best teams given their population and geographical challenges?

COOK: For me, it's consistency. If they can maintain their top level of play for the full 80 minutes, they'll easily be back in the 2020 finals.