Forbes skipper Jake Grace has been around long enough to know when he’s getting a touch cheesy, but there’s one cliche the tireless lock swears by.
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And it’s relevant now more so than any other time during in his tenure at the Magpies.
“We’re taking things one week at a time,” Grace said, his side off to an encouraging 3-0 start to its Group 11 premiership defence.
“I know how that sounds, too, but really we can’t afford to get to far ahead of things.”
Forbes accounted for Wellington and Westside over the opening two rounds before beating Dubbo Macquarie 34-12 last week, easily the club’s best effort in 2017.
Grace is after a repeat in Nyngan, but knows the challenge will continue to get tougher as opposition sides look to rally hard against the defending premiers.
We’ve had some good wins leading into a tough couple of weeks.
- Jake Grace
“We’ve had a good start to the season,” he added.
“And we’ve had some good wins leading into a tough couple of weeks, but right now our team is focused on Nyngan at Nyngan and making sure we put in the sort of performance we need to to get the points.”
The Tigers at Nyngan is arguably one of the toughest road trips in Group 11.
Stewart Mills’ side has had a mixed start to the 2017 season, but hit form during a 50-24 win over Narromine at Larkin Oval in round three.
That win shot the black and golds up to third on the ladder, behind both Forbes and Dubbo CYMS, the only undefeated sides to start the winter.
Grace said winning at Nyngan was about making the most of the opportunities Forbes is afforded.
And the Tigers have allowed a few opportunities to opponents this season.
Nyngan has conceded an average of 24 points each round this year and if the Magpies are allowed those kind of points it will be difficult for Mills’ men to fight their way back.
A positive for the Tigers, a side which has gained confidence each week, is the fact this weekend’s game is the first home game for this season after three successive road trips to Dubbo, Wellington and Narromine.
After the trip to Larkin Oval, Forbes hosts Narromine before taking on Parkes on June 11 at Jock Colley Oval in the annual June long weekend clash between the two rivals.
The Magpies then travel to Caltex Park where they’ll face Dubbo CYMS in a rematch of the 2016 Group 11 grand final.
Not that Grace is looking that far ahead.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
