Geurie Goats turn into Central West big dogs on the back of a meeting with now coach Paul Hausia in 2015

Just two wins in six years will give you that tag.

Enough was enough, though, the Geurie Goats president was well and truly at that point.

And it wasn’t until he met up with a prospective coach at a coffee shop in Dubbo that the tide began to turn.

“No one wanted to play for us. We were being beaten 100-0 every game … I said ‘we can’t do this anymore’, we had to change,” Dowell remembers at the end of the 2015 GrainCorp Cup season.

That campaign was another winless one of the Geurie club, the Goats’ fourth winless season since 2010.

“So we rang Paul Hausia, who used to coach Rhinos but wasn’t at that stage, and arranged to meet up,” Dowell continues.

“I was waiting at a coffee shop and he pulled up in the smallest car you’ve ever seen and out climbed this huge man … I knew then he was the bloke we were after.”

Since that meeting, the Goats have built and built and built.

Eight wins in 2016 – one of those to reclaim the Sam Chandler Cup Yeoval had held since 2007 – and a break-through appearance in the finals was followed by another 10 wins in 2017, including a shot in the preliminary final.

Both ended in finals heartbreak, but helped land the Goats where they are now in 2018 - building to something special.

An undefeated northern GrainCorp Cup campaign – the only blemish a 14-all draw against Molong in round 6 – has lifted the Goats to a home major semi-final and a shot at hosting this year’s grand final – what would be a first in the club’s 16-year history.

From whipping boys to GrainCorp Cup big dogs, Dowell says the small town situated 30 kilometres east of Dubbo along the Mitchell Highway is abuzz with excitement ahead of Saturday’s semi-final.

It’s also pretty fitting the club plays Molong – the Magpies have knocked Geurie out of the last two finals series.

“It’d be a great achievement for the town (to host a grand final) considering where we’ve come from,” Dowell said.

“We’ve never beaten Molong in a semi. This would be another milestone for us, and there’s been a few in the last couple of years.

“I moved to Geurie 12 years ago, the family had the BP garage and I played a few games, got on the committee and then I think everyone just got sick of losing.”

Dowell was glowing of Hausia, who has helped turn the Goats around with a mix of rugby nous and a contacts book, you could argue, the ency of the central west.

The renowned forwards coach recruited Filisone Pauta, a NSW Country Cockatoos centre at the time, as well as Moavuka Kavauka and a host of other big names.

“Paul Hausia ... he’s probably the first fair dinkum rugby coach we’ve had at the club,” Dowell said.

“We’ve always had plenty of blokes keen to play, there’s still a dozen or so Geurie guys playing, but Paul brought the quality to compliment that.

“It was the dream, but I never thought we’d be in a position to host a grand final.”

Saturday’s major sem-final clash will kick-off at 3pm at the Geurie Showground. The minor semi-final between Wellington and Coolah kicks off at the same time down the highway at Wellington.

2018:12 games, 11 wins, 1 draw.

2017:12 games, 10 wins.

2016: 14 games, 8 wins.

2015: 12 games, 0 wins.

2014: 14 games, 0 wins.

2013: 18 games, 2 wins.

2012: no team.

2011: 14 games, 0 wins.

2010: 14 games, 0 wins.

2009: 15 games 1 win.

2008: 15 games 6 wins.

2007: 17 games 6 wins