The Rhinos came into the New Holland Cup match needing a win after consecutive losses, while Parkes were flying high after winning four of their first five.

While the Boars carried better form, it was the Rhinos who flew out of the blocks to lead 19-5 at the break.

Their second half performance wasn’t as strong, conceding a try from the kick-off and Parkes threatened to make a comeback.

Despite having trouble with ball control, the Rhinos were able to defend well enough to hold on for the win.

Rhinos co-captain Brett Austin said there was some improvement from recent performances but admitted it wasn’t wasn’t a strong 80 minute performance.

“I was very happy with the first 30-35 minutes [but overall] we could have played a lot better than what we did,” he said.

“I thought our second half was pretty ordinary. They scored from the kick-off and put pressure on us.

“But it’s good to get the win, we were coming off two losses so that helps.”

Austin said while his team were much better than the opening week of the competition, when the Boars beat them 43-22, he felt Parkes were missing players.

“I don’t think that was their best side, I think they had a few injuries,” he said. “Hopefully for their sake, they can get guys back on the paddock because it doesn’t make much to start sliding down the ladder.”

“We were missing guys too and Tyson [Fuller, Rhinos fullback] copped a bad concussion. I think he might be missing for a couple of weeks.”

Austin is hopeful those players can return soon because the Rhinos have a tough few weeks on the road.

“We’re away to Blayney, then CSU and Narromine, so that’s a tough few weeks. Ideally we can get back to full strength for Narromine,” he said.

Ball retention would be the key to Rhinos winning games in the coming weeks, the co-captain said.

“We’ve still got improvement in us and plenty we can work on,” Austin said.

“We’ve turned the ball over too much. We’ve been making breaks, taking on the line but then we’ve coughed the ball up.

“I thought Jake Scott played okay at five-eighth in his first game in first grade. He got thrown into the halves.

“We are still looking for that link to the backs and there was talk of Tyson [Fuller] stepping in but that won’t happen now.”

One area that did impress Austin was the side’s discipline.

“That’s the first game where we didn’t receive a yellow card and that was a big factor in us getting the win. It allowed us to keep the scoreline down,” he said.

“Our discipline still isn’t good. It’s something we’ve been working on at training, but at least there weren’t repeated infringements that made it harder for us.”

Rhinos seconds had their first win of the year, beating Parkes 29-5.