Orange Tigers' senior men will have a sense of deja-vu on Saturday as the side runs out for its second game in three weeks against the Dubbo Demons, but they'll be looking to reverse their round one result.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Demons and Tigers clash again on Saturday in a quirk of the 2020 fixture, while the reserves and women head to Cowra to face the Blues.
The Tigers go in without ruckman Mark Mori, who dislocated his shoulder, and midfielder Pat Taggart said he'd be a big loss.
Taggart joined the Tigers in the off-season after moving from Adelaide alongside fellow new face Nick Modra.
While Taggart expected to play rugby while in NSW he was pleased to find an Australian rules competition, even if the competition's a bit different to Adelaide standards - although after lockdown he's not complaining.
"I've always played in the midfield, I don't know where else I could play."
"The game here's a lot slower than where I've come from but because of all the shutdown I'm also not as fit or strong as would have been if I'd done a full preseason."
He's yet to realise it, too, running himself ragged in the Tigers' opening two games at the bottom of the pack, feeding the ball out to the likes of Mick Evans and Ike Dean.
Having youngsters like Dean in the team has been strange for Taggart, too, with the South Australian not used to having as many underage players in the top tier.
He's looking for more voice from the side, but is confident the team will gel over the next few weeks.
First bounce is 2.30pm.
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.
