The young winger and his side were vastly superior to Orange City early on at Pride Park on Saturday but the match finished a classic tale of two halves.

The Roos shot out to a 24-5 lead before half-time but that was as good as it got as the hosts produced a stirring second half comeback to start their season with incredible 39-24 victory.

While City was hugely improved in the second half, ill-discipline from the Roos was also a key factor in the final result.

"I think it was a bit of discipline on our end and just a bit of fatigue set in," Porch admitted after the final whistle.

"We had a few bad penalties there that pinned us down in our own half and then just became ill-discipled from that point on. On our line we just didn't commit to tackles."

READ ALSO:

- 'Can't accept good losses': Rhinos demand more after Mudgee defeat

- Complete guide to the 2021 Blowes Clothing Cup season

- Hope remains for Indigenous All Stars fixture to be played in 2021

Porch was one of a number of younger players handed a debut by coach Paul Hausia but his own performance basically summed up his side's as he impressed early on but was guilty of some of the ill-discipline and spent 10 minutes in the bin during the second half for a high shot.

"First half I think I went real well. I got into open space and was able to use that speed and linked up well with the other backs in the teams," he said.

"But again, that second half, it's just a bit of discipline. Just a head high.

"As a team we said that first half would beat most teams, that second half just let us down a bit and that's something we have to work on, we know what we have to work on."

It was a debutant for Orange City who was the star of the show.

Traye Horde bagged a double and set-up another but he said the unity and belief in the side was the biggest thing for City.

"I think there were nerves from a lot of the blokes," he said of the poor start.

"I think we panicked a bit at the start but we had a chat and I think we realised our structures are there for a reason, we've got a good enough side, we believe in each other and then our forwards went in hard."

That first half was anything but joyous for City as they found themselves down 12-0 early on in the contest thanks to tries from Dubbo's Jake Styles and Pat Wheatley.

The only thing the Roos couldn't do in the opening 20 minutes was convert, with Styles quickly pulled from kicking duty after missing his first two attempts.

Against the run of play, Fletcher Rose managed to get five points back on the board for City but Dubbo were quick to respond a Will Anderson five-pointer and a penalty try pushed the score to 24-5

Salvaging something from the first half, Hodge barrelled over with just a minute left to play to make the score 24-10 going into the break.

The halftime talk from coach Viv Paasi definitely did the trick as City came out rejuvenated in the second 40.

"Viv lit a fire under our arse," City back-rower Logan Brockman said.

"We got a good structure this year and we strayed from that a bit in the first half. Viv straightened us out at the half.

"We played stupidly that first half."

Rose crossed for his second early on before a Harry Tuberner try cut the Roos lead to just two.

Penalties caused the visitors too many issues after the break and once Hodge crossed for his second to give last year's runners-up the lead, City never looked like surrendering.

The binning of Porch and Ronan Scott within minutes of each other was the final nail in the coffin as Roos were held scoreless in the second half.