It's going to be a number of weeks before the best of the Dubbo Kangaroos is on show in the Blowes Clothing Cup but co-captain Tim Beach knows that's no excuse for poor performances early in the year.
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The Roos will play their first home game of the season on Saturday, a week after throwing away a 24-10 half-time lead in a disappointing showing at Orange City.
Beach missed that match due to work commitments but will return on the wing at No. 1 Oval for the bumper clash with a Bathurst Bulldogs side which downed premiers Orange Emus in round one.
"If we play like we did last week we'll get our pants pulled down," Beach said.
"But if we go out there and fix a few things and tidy up our ill-discipline then we'll give them a good crack and be every chance of getting over them."
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Ill-discipline was the biggest issue for the Roos in the 39-24 loss to City but it's been spoken about at length during the week.
A different approach to the breakdown is expected on Saturday after a number of penalties for repeat infringements at Orange and Beach said his side may "leave the breakdown alone" unless there's a clear and obvious chance to steal the ball.
"What let us down was our discipline, game management, and defence and we made them a focus at training," Beach added.
Beach's co-captain Hamish Gordon remains in doubt for Saturday's match after missing the City clash with an ankle injury suffered at training.
The scrumhalf was limping at training on Tuesday and Beach said if it came to a 50-50 call he'd rather Gordon sit out another week to limit the chance of any further injury.
Former captain Shaun McHugh is also unavailable again but the positive for the Roos this season is the first grade squad being a relatively settled one.
"We've got to learn not to rely on certain players and get used to playing with what we've got and taking time to build the combinations, which has been a bit of a problem the last few years," Beach said.
"We've had blokes in and out of the side but we've got a rough idea of our side and you're probably seeing it already."
With combinations still forming - the Roos played with a new fullback, new centres and two halves making their first grade debut last weekend - under new coach Paul Hausia there's a feeling things won't really click until the middle of the season.
"There's a lot of new faces and a new head coach and coaching staff and the structure is different to what we did," Beach said, comparing it to former Wallaby and former director of coaching at the club, Beau Robinson.
"We're going from a very professional, Super Rugby-style under Beau to now Pauly Hausia. Obviously each coach is different and this isn't as intense so that's different."
The style under Hausia is much more instinctive on the field, with the players urged to play some eyes-up footy and play what's in front of them a lot more.
While it can place pressure on the halves, Beach is keen to see fullback Jake Styles and his centres ease the playmaking burden as the season goes on.
"I think this weekend could be a bit telling as to whether we start to play with a bit more structure," he added.
Saturday is also the Roos' sponsors' day and a strong crowd is expected at the club's first match at No. 1 Oval since 2019.
Kick-off in first grade is 3.15pm.
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