The Dubbo Kangaroos have been at work for more than six months, sweating it out pre-season before getting the ball in hand and working on new set-plays and structure designed to take them to the summit of Central West rugby.
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The new Blowes Clothing Cup season arrived, full of possibility of confidence, and the expectation around the Roos was growing.
But now, ahead of the last round of the regular season, captain Shaun McHugh can only remember a few performances which really showed what his side and club is about.
"We've been working since January and we're now at the end of July and I could count on one hand the performances to be proud of," he said.
"And that's a shame."
Much like last year, it's been a frustrating and inconsistent campaign for the Roos and one which again goes on the line in the final round.
Last season the Roos lost to Orange Emus in round 15 and were then forced to watch the finals from the sidelines, and that's where they'll be again if they don't win at Forbes on Saturday.
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A week ago the Roos were eyeing third on the ladder but the weekend's loss to Cowra means everything is on the line in Saturday's contest at Grinsted Oval.
The Roos currently sit fourth, four points ahead of Forbes, but even if they were to get a bonus point in a defeat and they stayed level on the ladder the Platypi would advance having won the more games in 2019.
A double bonus point loss could see the Roos go through, but winning and showing the kind of fight which has lacked at times is all McHugh wants.
"We just can't seem to take that next step and cement third spot," the skipper said, looking at the similarities with last year.
"We're left fighting for fourth or fifth and that's frustrating. We know the games we've played and we know if we if we could get the blokes on the paddock we could be top two so to be in this position is frustrating.
"But it's now up to us if we play one more game or at least two more."
That battle to field the same side week in, week out is the biggest issue for McHugh.
Countless times this season he's spoken about players missing training or matches for various reasons, calling it a "flaw" within the club at one stage.
It hasn't improved as the year has gone on, and as of Thursday afternoon there was still uncertainty around the make-up of the side for the clash with Forbes.
McHugh and Mark Baldwin will return after missing last week due to NSW Country representative duty, while Simon Hegarty is also expected to be back from injury.
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However, that news is dampened by injuries to key backs Anthony Golding and Tim Beach which have them in doubt, the latter in particular.
"The amount of blokes we go through, the turnover is ridiculous," McHugh said of the ever-changing lineups.
"That consistency has been the biggest fault we've had."
Much like he said this time last year, McHugh feels the Roos "just" deserve to be playing finals.
"We haven't been consistently good enough," he said.
"We've been thereabouts but we haven't grabbed third spot and said it's ours and made others say it's Bulldogs, Emus, and then Roos.
"No-one has said that, and rightfully so. We've been battling to get a strangle-hold in the competition."
Forbes is coming off a tight win over Orange City and will welcome back it's own NSW Country squad members Mahe Fangupo and Charlie French on Saturday.
The sides have met on two occasions already this season and both times the side at home won.
"If we show some desperation and some fight we'll go a long way to winning," McHugh said.
Kick-off is 3.15pm on Saturday.