Dubbo Rhinos' two sides waiting for finals after lockdown

While the club, like so many others, faces the challenge posed by a lockdown a real sense of excitement remains.

For the first time in a number of years, the Rhinos had three sides secure finals football this year.

The first grade side had its season ended in the New Holland Cup minor semi-final last weekend but the colts and second grade outfit remains.

Their plans have changed now due to the COVID outbreak in Dubbo and surrounding regions, with the structure to the colts finals series modified while the second grade side's New Holland Cup grand final meeting with Mudgee has been pushed back a week.

READ ALSO:

- 'Almost telepathic' understanding to help Spurs as WPL season is pushed back

- Dubbo lockdown extended to eight neighbouring areas

- Beahan calls time on career as focus shifts to family

If the current lockdown in Dubbo ends next week as initially planned, the Rhinos' second grade side will meet Mudgee at Parkes in the decider on August 21 while the colts side will take on the same opposition in their semi-final the following day.

"It's quite amazing, really," club president Ian Burns said of the progress in 2021.

"We hadn't won a first grade game for two-and-a-half years and they made the first grade semis and they unfortunately for knocked out but that was a huge turnaround.

"To have second grade play semis for the third year in a row but go far deeper than they ever have, to my knowledge we've never had a second grade side play a grand final.

"And our colts. We've had good colts side previously ... but this year they're a phenomenal side and they're quite a complete package."

As well as being president, Burns also coaches the Rhinos colts and has been hugely impressed by the rugby they have produced this season.

The Rhinos finished the regular season in second behind Orange City and now are scheduled to play Mudgee for a spot in the grand final.

"We've got some outstanding, skillful players and we've got some rough and ready players but they don't give away penalties. They play rugby," he said.

"It's exciting."

To have the finals taken away this coming weekend is "disappointing" but obvious and the right decision as community health comes first, added Burns, but he doesn't expect it to impact preparations too much.

Should the matches go ahead the following weekend as planned, there will be minimal time at training but Burns expects everyone to be primed and doesn't expect delays to impact on player availability to any great extent.

"It's not ideal but I think we'll be okay," he said.

"We (colts) had a really good training session on Tuesday and went for an-hour-and-a-half. We did a lot of skills and worked on certain aspects of the game and then had a really good run with second grade.

"That was really good. Our guys are generally reasonably physical in games so we're going to have get out, when we get an opportunity, and focus on hitting some shields, some bags, and maybe each other so we don't come out slow on game day."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: