There's been a noticeable change in mood around Nyngan this week.
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There's always plenty of passion in the footy-mad community but the effects of COVID in recent times and the stop-start nature of the 2021 Group 11 season meant there wasn't quite the same buzz around the Tigers this year.
But that all changed after the side's statement victory at Wellington last weekend.
The 28-24 victory was one of Nyngan's best in recent seasons and provided a massive boost ahead of Sunday's penultimate round meeting with Dubbo CYMS.
"There's always the talk about football but after the weekend it's lifted another level so Sunday is going to be a cracker," Nyngan prop Jacob Neill said.
"We've grown in confidence and it's been a funny year because there was COVID last year and at the start of this year there was a lot byes and all that jazz so it didn't seem to flow.
"But it seemed to click on Sunday and it's clicking at the right time."
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Adding to the occasion is Sunday's match will be Nyngan's sponsors' day and that is set to attract even more people to Larkin Oval.
"I can guarantee one thing, it's going to be packed at Larkin Oval," Neill said, adding it was always important for the club to recognise the hard-working sponsors.
"I think CYMS enjoys it too. They've come over the last couple of years and it's been a close game so we expect nothing less again."
The key for Nyngan in last weekend's win was the vastly improved discipline.
As has been the case almost all season, a number of unnecessary penalties were given away in the first half at Wellington but the Tigers tightened things up in the second 40 minutes and, despite suffering a number of injuries, came back from 16-10 down to win.
Whoever we play is going to be a in a battle.
- Jacob Neill
Discipline was the problem earlier in the year against CYMS as captain-coach Jeremy Smith's sin-binning was a key moment in the eight-point loss.
"Once we control that and stick to completing sets and getting to our kick we can match it with anyone," Neill added.
"We'll look to get out and complete this weekend and they'll be up for the contest because they're a good team and top for a reason."
Nyngan is part of a tight battle for third spot on the ladder as they sit in fourth on 15 points, just one behind third-placed Macquarie but only one ahead of Parkes.
The chance to finish top three and earn a place in the major semi-final hasn't been spoken about at length in the Tigers' camp this season and while it's now a goal, the focus now is much more on the level of performance than position on the ladder.
"We've stripped it right back and taking it each week as it comes and wherever we end up, we end up," Neill added.
"But whoever we play is going to be a in a battle. It's the same for all five teams, you can't rock up and expect an easy game. There's five teams and not much between them."
Josh Merritt and centres Clynton Edwards and Sonny Knight failed to finish last weekend's match but the latter is the only one in doubt for Sunday due to a shoulder knock.
Sunday's first grade match kicks off at 2.30pm.
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