There's been few highlights for the Dubbo Kangaroos during the past five years but the chance to be part of one of the biggest grand final days in the club's history now awaits.
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The Roos' first grade side hasn't played on grand final day since winning the 2014 decider and current captain Shaun McHugh knows that's not good enough for a club the stature of his.
McHugh is one of only two current Roos who started in that 2014 grand final win, the other being Filisione Pauta, and since then he's seen his side bow out in a preliminary final and two minor semi-finals while the past two years the Dubbo side failed to make finals altogether.
On Sunday they host Orange City in this year's minor semi, with victory securing passage to a decider date with either minor premiers Orange Emus or defending champions Bathurst Bulldogs.
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The weekend is a massive one for the Roos with the second and third grade outfits and also the women's side all playing for a spot in their respective grand finals.
"The first grade side has underachieved since 2014," McHugh said.
"Second grade was flying the flag for us in 2016 and they are again now, they're undefeated, so it would mean a lot to the blokes if we could get through and the women's and third grade sides, as well.
"It would be enormous to potentially have four of the five sides in grand finals. It would show the strength of the club."
The Roos head into this weekend's semi-final having won only once since the start of August but McHugh isn't fazed and feels the performance in last weekend's three-point loss to unbeaten Emus was his side's best of the season.
But there was still some patches of inconsistency and a number of penalties, some of those contentious, conceded in the top-of-the-table battle.
Inconsistency was also a huge issue during the most recent match against City, one the Lions won right on full-time courtesy of a Keegan Harding penalty goal.
"We didn't play our best and we probably underestimated City," McHugh said of that day, before looking to Saturday.
"We're confident if we play our best football on the day we'll get the victory.
"City will bring plenty of spirit and they've had some success this year and that's great because they're a proud club.
"They've got some fantastic backs and the forwards are led by 'Blocker' (Josh Tremain) so if we turn up and play like we did last time we can put a line through next weekend but if we play the brand of football we did last weekend we've got another week ahead of us."
The skipper added there has been plenty of work on the scrum this week after it struggled against Emus last time out.
Will Michell and Sam Clements failed to finish the game against Emus because of injury and remain in some doubt ahead of the battle with City.
First-grade kick-off is 3.15pm, Sunday, at Apex 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.
