In between the puffing and panting, sweating and aching muscles, there’s always a touch of excitement in pre-season.
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There’s new faces, new hope, and everybody is keen for the season to begin.
Dubbo Kangaroos veteran Shaun McHugh has experienced that for a number of years but even he admits there’s even a bit more positivity than normal in the camp at the moment.
With former former Super Rugby premiership winner Beau Robinson now setting the structure for the club to follow, the Roos will play a style which “different to every other year”, according to McHugh.
And everyone, from the youngest colts player right through to the coaches, is on board.
“Attitude,” McHugh said bluntly when asked what the biggest change is.
“I’d only met Beau once or twice before and can’t say I knew him too well but his attitude at training has rubbed off.
“It’s get in, get it done, get it done well, get everyone on board, and then go.
“And that can’t just be him. It has to be led by the playing group as well. Beau sets the standard but we’ve got to implement that and that attitude has been great.”
With the 2018 season now less than a month away, the Roos will ramp up its preparation with trial matches at Mudgee and Tamworth the next two weekends.
This Saturday will see a large group of players make the trip to Jubilee Oval for a clash with the Mudgee Wombats.
That will be followed by a trip the following weekend to take on Central North’s premier side, the Tamworth Pirates.
“It’s so far, so good,” McHugh said.
“But it will be a good test at Mudgee and a chance to see how our fitness is and the combinations.
“We can see what does work well and where we need to apply more.”
The new attitude, structure and style is all being done to get the Roos “back where we belong” and also boost rugby within in Dubbo.
That was one of Robinson’s major motivating factors when taking on the role at the Roos and it has created a sense of real excitement in the camp.
“It’s all come from Beau,” McHugh said.
“He’s got the experience of playing all over the world and he’s got a major input and a gameplan for what he wants to implement.”
The Singleton Rugby Club will also be in action at Mudgee this weekend, making it a gala day of pre-season action.
Following the trial games, the Dubbo Kangaroos open their 2018 Blowes Clothing Cup campaign at home against the Forbes Platypi.