It's hasn't been the smoothest of tournaments so far but both the Western Rams under 16s and under 18s are primed to peak at the right time.
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The sides both defeated Illawarra South Coast Dragons teams on the weekend to advance to the semi-finals of the Andrew Johns Cup and Laurie Daley Cup respectively.
The injury-ravaged 16s side conceded a try inside one minute but recovered and won 24-14 while the 18s scored a 26-14 win.
Both sides finished with three wins from the five preliminary rounds, but that proved good enough to advance from their southern pools.
"Both teams have been a bit guilty of mistake-riddled games but both are good footy teams and if we they get it together on the day then they'll be a very good challenge," 16s coach Tony Woolnough said.
The Rams' semi-final opponents are yet to be confirmed as one set of northern pool matches have yet to be played due to flooding on the North Coast last month.
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Woolnough's outfit is likely to meet the Parramatta Eels but the opposition doesn't matter too much to the coach.
"The boys clicked a bit on the weekend and I think it was the best performance of the campaign so it was really pleasing," Woolnough said.
"I've got a couple coming back from injury so come semi-finals time I think we should be close to full strength."
Full strength is something the coach has only been able to dream about during the Andrew Johns Cup.
Woolnough used only 18 players during last season's run to the final but this time out he's already up to 23.
"We've lost about four front-rowers," he said.
"We've done really well to get where we are."
Things didn't seem so positive inside the first minute of Saturday's match against the Dragons at the Collegians Sporting Complex
They're a gutsy team and showed it for the past five weeks.
- Tony Woolnough
Powerful outside back Jack Piccirilli went over and converted his own try to make it 6-0 in the blink of an eye but the Rams soon worked their way into the game.
Lachlan Lawson grabbed the Rams' first try and five minutes later prop Tom Negus crashed over from close range.
A knock-on from the kick-off allowed the Dragons back in and they took the chance, levelling it up at 10-10 at the break.
The Rams were far better in the second stanza, the kicking game of returning five-eighth Nick Murphy a real highlight, and soon took control.
Tries for Angus Staniforth, Aiden Stait and Preston Thorpe secured the all-important win.
"They're a gutsy team and showed it for the past five weeks," Woolnough said.
"I always thought they would get better as the competition has gone on and they're understanding structure now when a lot of them probably haven't played with it.
"The way we started wasn't ideal but they kept cool and calm and got back to what we know."
The coach singled out Negus and Kye Cameron after they stepped up to lead the depleted forward pack while he described Murphy as a player "with a bit of class about him".
The Rams conceded three first-half tries in the Laurie Daley Cup but rallied in the second half and scored a 12-point win.
The Dragons were kept scoreless in the second half as Kurt Hancock's men secured victory and progression to the final four.
Those semi-finals are played on the weekend of March 28 and 29.
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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.
