So often when Dubbo CYMS wins a tight match the general consensus is the superior fitness level of the Fishies got them through.
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So when looking at the 18-16 scoreline after Saturday's thrilling NSW Challenge Cup semi-final, captain-coach Jarryn Powyer has no doubt that's what people are thinking.
But for him, it was much more than that.
For Powyer, there was something driving his players on that can't be coached.
"There's always talk of fitness but to me it was just mateship," he said after the win at Marrickville.
"Most of these boys have played together for about six years and they're all really good mates.
"When it's like that you don't want to let your mate down.
"I think a lot of other sides would have thrown in the towel in that situation."
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It may have been a match in early March but the Fishies had to dig incredibly deep to win on Saturday.
That standard was a class above that which CYMS came up against in the quarter-final clash with Glebe, while the Magpies pack was a far more physically imposing one that was also mobile and skillful.
That made life difficult for CYMS early on and things were made even harder when key forwards Alex Ronayne and John Ciappara exited the game through injury.
The Fishies trailed after running against the breeze in the first half but got back in front in the second stanza before holding out wave after wave of Magpies attack late on.
The hosts had a chance to level it up on full-time but a penalty kick from the chalk 40m out fell short in the stiff breeze.
"It was unbelievable to watch," Powyer, who missed the game through injury, said.
"We probably had one bloke over 100 kilos in the middle at the end and the rest would have been about 80.
"We had no front-rowers but they kept going."
Reserve half Harry Kempston finished the game in the forwards in an indication of how much CYMS was struggling up front.
It was unbelievable to watch.
- Dubbo CYMS captain-coach Jarryn Powyer
"You almost start worrying about welfare," Powyer said.
"A lot of the boys played close to 80 minutes, which they're capable of, but they (Magpies) were a big team and it's pre-season so you get a bit worried and don't want to put under-weight players on."
Ronayne scored the opener before a head knock left him with concussion, while Billy Sing and Brad Pickering also crossed in the win.
Pickering nailed three-from-three with the boot as well while his general kicking in the game was also key to the victory.
The win on Saturday sets up a second successive Challenge Cup grand final clash with the Guildford Owls.
CYMS romped to a 62-18 win in last year's decider but the rematch will have to wait though with the 2019 final set down for the June long weekend.
"Guildford again and that should be good," Powyer said.
"We didn't pay too much attention to it but there was a lot of talk last year they weren't at full-strength but surely they'll bring their very best this time."
The Owls play in the Ron Massey Cup, the same competition as the Magpies, and thrashed the Wyong Roos 34-0 in the other semi-final.
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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.
