The Nyngan Tigers are box-office entertainment this season.
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Through three games in Group 11 this year the Tigers have already been involved in two contenders for match of the season.
They stormed back from a big half-time deficit in round two to snatch a 26-all draw with Forbes while last weekend they were involved in attacking epic and downed the Parkes Spacemen 54-40.
Captain-coach Jeremy Smith said that match was unlike anything he's been a part of before and while he knows his side side has to improve as the season goes on, for now he's happy getting a win any way he can.
"Allowing that many points last weekend didn't faze me too much because I know there's points in us," he said.
"As long as we can score more than what we're allowing it's still a pretty positive thing."
The Tigers return home this weekend for a meeting with the Wellington Cowboys and more points could be on the menu.
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The Cowboys are coming off the bye last round but a week prior to that they cruised past 50 in a win over the Narromine Jets.
"Wello can score points from anywhere. I haven't dug too much into them but a team with (captain-coach) Justin Toomey-White in it is going to be able to score points and will be a threatening team," Smith said.
"Our defence has to be a lot better, especially in the first half.
"In the previous games as well we've started a bit slower than we would have hoped but we always find our groove. We're looking for a quicker start."
Youngster Jak Jeffrey continued his fine start to life in first grade last weekend when he scored a hat-trick at Parkes but much of the Tigers' attack flowed through halfback Josh Merritt.
Long regarded as one of the most skillful halves in the region, Merritt made his first appearance since the 2019 season last weekend and Smith said "he looked like he hadn't skipped a beat".
"He just knows how to control a football game," Smith said.
"One thing Josh doesn't really get credit for is his good football brain. He knows how to break down a game and it's always pleasing having him on there and you go in with a bit of confidence knowing he's on your team."
Merritt's appearance put another piece of the puzzle in place for Smith but the overall picture is still coming together.
The best possible lineup hasn't been fielded yet at Nyngan with fullback Ben Baker missing last weekend due to an ankle injury while former Super League star and 2019 captain-coach Justin Carney is still "a couple of weeks away" from making his return to the Tigers.
"Our shape was pretty good on the weekend and we're starting to know our roles individually and we're getting to our points and starting to work out how each other plays," Smith said.
"The combinations are slowly coming together and once we start to get the same team on the field it's going to be a lot better.
"At the moment we've been swapping and changing because blokes have had work commitments or injuries."
With so many changes week-to-week at the moment everything goes back to Smith's earlier point of just getting the win early in the season.
A number of new faces arrived at the club during the off-season and it remains a work-in-progress but Smith is excited about the potential of his squad.
"I think we're going pretty well. I've said it previously and I've continued to tell the boys as long as we build on each effort week in, week out we're in good stead," he said.
"We're not going to hit our straps until later in the season but as long as we build each week it's pleasing.
"Our defence is something we're working on. We've been doing a fair bit on it and I think it will be the biggest thing this week. Wello is a very good team and can throw the ball around anywhere.
"They're a bit unpredictable so we've got to aim up and pick up our defensive efforts."
The action at Nyngan's Larkin Oval on Sunday starts with league tag at 11am, with the main game to kick-off at 2.30pm.
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