Darren Taylor as much a part of Dubbo Rhinos as the black and gold jerseys.
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That's why it hurt him so much to see the club struggle in the past few years.
A former premiership-winning coach with the club in the past, Taylor was still around the Rhinos in recent times but not in as much of a hands on role.
That's changed this year and the returning first grade coach wants the results to change as well.
"I wasn't going to coach but I couldn't stand sitting back and watching them go through what they have the past couple of years," Taylor said.
The Rhinos kick-off their New Holland Cup campaign this weekend with a trip to Bathurst to face defending premiers CSU.
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They start the season having finished with wooden spoon the past two years.
Injuries and lack of numbers has played a major part in the club's struggles but there's another thing which must be corrected if the Rhinos are to work their way up the ladder.
"Discipline," Taylor fires back almost immediately when asked what needs to change.
He made it clear as soon as he took on the coach's role.
It was back in January when Taylor sat the squad down as pre-season started, laying down the law.
"I told them this is the way it's going to be," he said.
"Maybe it might not be for you but you've got to decide amongst yourselves if you're in.
"And now we're all good and ready to go."
Taylor has kept Matt Neill on as captain and he looks to the hard-working forward for his calm demeanour and ability to communicate with referees as much as his leadership and skill.
Taylor doesn't want to see players arguing with officials, scuffling with the opposition, and getting carded, as was often the case last season.
He wants all the energy putting into improving those performances.
"Play good and act good and the wins will come," he said.
Taylor instilled all this in his players back early in the year and the early results were promising as more than 50 players were regularly turning up for pre-season training.
The COVID struck.
It put every club on the back foot but ahead of the shortened 10-week season the coach is happy with his side.
The majority of clubs in the region have benefited from the Group 11 and Group 10 rugby league seasons being cancelled and the Rhinos are no different with Viliame Turuva, Jovilisi 'Tiger' Tawake, and Bobby Jo Gordon all set to line up this season.
There's some other new and returning faces which have impressed Taylor as well, with young fullback Dale Smith, versatile forward Ryan McCracken, front-rower Matt Grimace, and Neil Madden all singled out for praise.
Given the shortened season, there is no finals series for the five clubs as the top two at the end of the 10 rounds go straight through to the grand final.
"I'm only looking at first and second ... I really do think we've got a good thing this year and can finish top two," Taylor said.
Kick-off is 3.15pm on Saturday at Bathurst's University Oval.
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.
