A season which promised so much is slipping away from the Dubbo Rhinos but coach Dave Stuart wants to see his side keep putting in each week.
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A strong start to the season had the Rhinos flirting with the top five but a run of six straight losses has seen the men in black and gold fall well of the pace.
Unavailability, mainly through injury, has been a major issue for the side and will be again this weekend when the Rhinos take on the toughest challenge in the competition.
The Dubbo side travels to Orange on Saturday to take on the undefeated competition leaders, Orange Emus.
“We’re just missing numbers, we’re probably missing a whole team,” Stuart said.
“That has a huge affect on firsts and seconds. We had players backing up last week but at training there was some more numbers so hopefully we can go there with less disruption that last week.”
The Rhinos will start as massive underdogs in the match, despite the fact Emus will be without a host of regulars.
While captain Jordan Davis is one of the players to return this week both Ricky Weatherall and Manbir Mann will both be missing from the side which went down 81-14 to Forbes last time out.
“We scored some tries there and one especially was fantastic,” Stuart said of that loss.
“We got in good position and held them at times but when they distribute it wide, that’s where we need to work.
“But we’re just trying to take the positives as much as we can. Hopefully at some stage it can click and everyone will be back on deck. I’m looking forward to some good performances.
“We’re going there and you never know but we’re just looking for some small positives.”
Stuart added his players should be looking forward to the challenge as “without taking on the top three sides you don’t know where you’re at”.
He also praised his side’s attitude, which hasn’t waivered despite a run of heavy defeats.
A committed core group of players has been leading from the front week in, week out and that has helped ensure the side has stayed above the Cowra Eagles, Mudgee Wombats and CSU Bathurst on the ladder.
Those players will be key again on Saturday as the Rhinos look to score what would be one of the biggest shocks seen in the competition in some time.
“Even though teams have piled on big scores we’re here to play footy and enjoy it and it’s up to us to take positives,” Stuart said.
Kick off at Endeavour Oval is at 3.15pm Saturday.