Dubbo Kangaroos have been forced to make four changes to their winning side from last week as the end of the Blowes Menswear Cup home and away season draws closer.
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Successive wins over Parkes and CSU Bathurst have kept the light flickering for a place in the top five, but they have to win their last three games against Forbes (this Saturday), then Cowra and Rhinos - then hope that Orange City fall on their sword with games against CSU Bathurst, Bulldogs and arch rivals Emus.
The current point score has Narromine (57), Bulldogs (51), Parkes (48), and Emus (47) safe as a bank, then that leaves Orange City (39), the Roos (34) and Cowra (34) in line for the last place in the top five.
Although Forbes are having their worst season for some time and won’t make the play-offs, they have the home advantage against the Roos and won’t be any pushover.
Unfortunately the Roos have lost key forwards Ben Wiseman and Todd Stewart and also winger Ted Bates and fullback Josh Dodd.
But they have more than capable replacements in young guns James Elliott who will play in the second-row with his captain James Skuthorpe; and Tim Bartimote who will wear the six guernsey.
Out in the backs Wahie Wupeguto comes in for Bates and deserves a shot in first grade after scoring two tries - including the winning points after an intercept right on the fulltime bell - last week against CSU.
Matt Saul will play fullback and he’s no stranger to the position. He came on after only 10 minutes against CSU when Josh Dodd was injured.
Another plus for the the coaches is having regular winger Alex van Dartel back although he will be short of a gallop after touring overseas for the past few weeks. He has been named on the wing in second grade.
The Roos will take two senior sides and Colts to Forbes and on form should collect the points.
Like first grade, second grade will need to some luck to get fifth place for the finals while Colts will regroup after suffering their first loss for the season against CSU last week. They still lead the competition by two from the students.
n Dubbo Roos 1st grade: 1 Len Bartley, 2 Peter Nau, 3 Tim Cullenward, 4 James Elliott, 5 James Skuthorp (c), 6 Tim Bartimote, 7 Brad Pugh, 8 James Brodie, 9 Wade Richardson, 10 Paul Elliott, 11 Wahie Wupeguto, 12 Carlos Marr, 13 Daniel Peteru-Masila, 25 Kieran Smith, 15 Matt Saul. Coaches: Gus McDonald, Abram Duffy, Mark DeBrincat.
n 2nd grade: 1 James Barker, 2 Gerald Webster, 3 James Clark, 4 Andrew Woodcock, 5 Sam Martel, 6 Matt Creswell, 7 Diarmaid O’Shea, 8 Tom Kenny, 9 Dean Lake, 10 Mick Oriel, 11 Alex van Dartel, 12 Matt Hawley, 13 Will Barber, 14 Sam Troth, 15 Jason Coyle. Coaches: Greg Galvin, Sean Magnusson.
n Colts: 1 Beau Johnson, 2 Tom Clark, 3 Sam Kerin, 4 Jack Hollman, 5 Duncan Burke, 6 Duncan Carolan, 7 Hammish Magnusson, 8 Robert Parish, 9 Joe Evans, 10 Jay Bartholomew, 11 Adam Carr, 12 Mitchell Gersbach, 13 Myles Johnston, 14 Jacob Phillips, 15 Layne Searle. Coaches: Ben O’Malley, Kevin Saul.
