The Blowes Clothing Cup's long weekend general bye has come at a good time for the Dubbo Kangaroos.
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The side produced arguably its best performance of the season on Saturday but despite that it wasn't enough as they were beaten 12-7 in a bruising encounter with defending premiers Orange Emus.
The result leaves the Roos battered and bruised and still outside the competition's top five.
The Roos are seventh spot off the fifth-placed Bathurst Bulldogs but coach Paul Hausia was filled with promise after seeing his side produce a physical and consistent showing against Emus on Saturday.
Hausia's side has just three wins to his name but he said he can see the Roos stringing some wins together after this weekend off.
"Definitely," he said.
"I spoke to the boys just then (after Saturday's game) and they said we're sticking to that structure and we're going to see the results.
"It's taken more than half the season but we've got there."
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As pleasing as the effort was on Saturday there was still some deficiencies which allowed Emus to gain the upper-hand.
The Roos barely won a lineout in the second half while they also lost a number of scrums against the feed.
"The lineouts, our one-on-one tackles were a bit of an issue," Hausia said.
"We were falling off in way too many one-on-ones and that's those one-percenters. I've said to the boys that's what's going to cost us and unfortunately it did."
The side can't afford too many losses as Orange City, sitting at the bottom of the ladder, has also proven it has what it takes to match the best at times and they are certain to also be a part of what is shaping as a tense finals race in the coming weeks.
The Roos' best rugby has been entertaining this season and those performances were recognised this week as three players - Filisione Pauta, Will Archer, and Joe Nash - were named in the Central West representative side for the weekend's Country Championships.
The trio is set to return for the Roos the following week when they return to action against the Cowra Eagles.
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