Pat Berryman feels the Blowes Clothing Cup is yet to see the best of the Dubbo Kangaroos.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But he’s also well aware his side is running out of time to find top form.
The Roos are locked in a fierce battle with the Forbes Platypi and Cowra Eagles for the last two finals spots.
Orange Emus and Bathurst Bulldogs are assured of finishing one-two and it’s those two sides who the Roos face in the final two rounds of the regular season.
Losses in both those games would likely see Roos miss this season’s finals.
“I believe we haven’t seen our best yet,” Berryman said.
“We’ve had a couple of handy games but we haven’t really had that good win for the season and in these next two weeks it’s really now or never.
“It’s a bit last minute but we know we’ve got the team, it’s all about the right attitude and finding that. If we can do that now we’ll really show what sort of side the Roos is.”
The Roos play host to Bulldogs on Saturday, having beaten the Bathurst side at No. 1 earlier in the season.
Bulldogs got revenge when they hand hosting rights, handing the Roos a 36-point loss in a match Berryman missed due to representative commitments.
While playing for the NSW Country Colts was a thrill, the young gun said it’s been enjoyable to be able to string a few games together recently.
“I’m loving it,” he said of his time in first grade.
“It’s just great being around the boys. They’re all hungry and we’ve just been a bit unlucky this year so it’s been good to get a bit of a solid team going week in, week out.”
Berryman didn’t start the season in the number nine jersey for the Roos but has made it his own.
His development has also seen Jock Brownhill move to fullback and that switch has sparked the Roos.
Berryman and Brownhill combined with flyhalf Hamish Gordon to great effect in last weekend’s 72-5 win over Orange City.
“Beau (Robinson) has shifted a few players around to find the best fit for the team and I think he’s found that,” Berryman said.
“The experience of Jock at the back and the direction he provides is really beneficial and the communication between Jock, myself and Hamish is really starting to show out there.”
Berryman said it us up to the whole team to show character in these final two rounds.
While the Roos take on Bulldogs, the fourth-placed Forbes travels to Orange to take on the ladder-leading Emus in a grand final rematch while Cowra is favoured to defeat an Orange City side with just one win to its name this season.
While there’s plenty of scenarios which can play out in the next two rounds, the Roos are firmly focused on Bulldogs.
“I know they (Bulldogs) are a smart team and they capitalise on mistakes quickly,” Berryman said.
“We can’t afford that dropped ball or turnovers because they will pounce and take those opportunities and that can flip the game quickly.”
Kick-off is 3.15pm.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
