The Magpies went into the game on the back of three successive losses, all occurring in the time captain Jake Grace was away on a belated honeymoon.

Grace was immense in his return but did get sin-binned and was clearly frustrated for much of the game as his side finished on the wrong side of a lopsided penalty count.

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But the work through the middle from he and his fellow forwards, a double to halfback Farren Lamb, and smart performances from hookers Hayden Bolam and Jaiden Burke, got the men in black and white the victory and delighted the small but vocal pocket of Magpies fans who had made the long trek to Nyngan.

The Magpies are certain to finish fourth after the 26-10 victory and after the final round clash with fierce rivals Parkes, they will meet Macquarie in the elimination semi-final.

“After a few losses we needed to pull our finger out and we did that today,” Lamb said after the win.

“We’re on now. There’s no stepping back from here.”

Forbes was slow out of the sheds and fell behind when some Josh Merritt individual brilliance set-up a 6-0 lead for the Tigers after just three minutes.

Forbes then dominated possession and eventually made it count on 22 minutes when a strong charge from Grace early in the set led to Lamb scoring under the posts.

The Magpies hit the lead 10 minutes later when they made the most of an overlap on the left and Ethan Gaffney scored but, somewhat against the run of play, Tigers captain-coach Jacob Neill muscled his way across right before half-time to ensure the teams went into the sheds at 10-all.

Grace was sin-binned early in the second half after letting his frustrations get the better of him and Nyngan set-up camp inside the Magpies half.

The Tigers had three repeat sets and threw everything at the visitors but when spreading the ball to the right, Lamb pinched an intercept from Merritt and raced 90m to score.

It proved to be a key moment and Lamb was a popular figure with fans as he saluted on his way to the line.

“I’ve tried a couple (of intercepts) this year and it’s never worked and they scored off it so I said to myself ‘if I don’t get this one I won’t get another ever again’ and I read it at the right point and backed myself,” Lamb said of the try.

A tiring Nyngan began to falter  in the final quarter and with 13 minutes to go Jaiden Burke burst from dummyhalf and put Bolam over to make the lead 12 and with a minute to go fullback Charlie Staines crossed, icing the result.

There was obvious disappointment in the Nyngan camp as the result man last season’s beaten grand finalists.

It was also the club’s final home game of the year and the Tigers wore special pink jerseys to celebrate ladies day and all the women who have been involved with club.

“This season isn’t over. We’ve still got next week to get through,” Neill said after the loss.

“I said to the guys in the sheds don’t let your mates down (against CYMS in the final round).

“CYMS are a quality side … they’re undefeated and how good would it be to go there and knock them off.”

While the Tigers travel to Dubbo for the final round, Forbes must now prepare for the latest edition of the fierce derby with Parkes.

“It’s a rivalry,” Lamb said.

“It will be big and a big crowd. I’m keen for it.”