While the side went through a heart-breaking loss as Orange City came-from-behind to win in the major semi-final, Orange Emus under 13s aren't out of the premiership hunt.
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Not by a long shot.
However, coach Paul Ringland knows his troops can't keep their eyes on the prize - not yet, anyway.
They have a significant barrier to overcome on their quest for revenge: Forbes Platypi.
They just couldn't land the killing blow but rolled up their sleeves and got it done.
- Paul Ringland
"We can't really take our eyes off Forbes this weekend, they're a really good and improving side and have come into some really impressive form at the right time of the year," Ringland said.
"If we start looking towards City then we're finished, really."
Emus have the wood on Forbes so far this year, with two wins from a "couple of tough games", as Ringland put it.
He knows anything can happen in finals, but has also seen his charges stand up to their first finals experience, which despite being a loss was a "really good game of rugby".
"They just couldn't land the killing blow but rolled up their sleeves and got it done," he said.
Despite coming off massive finals campaigns of the own, Ringland said the whole club had got behind the junior side.
"We've had a whole lot of support from the club and from the seniors, they all recognise how important junior rugby is to the club and the region," he said.
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Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
