It's been a season of injuries, suspensions, ups, downs, trials and tribulations but Cowra Magpies' coach Kurt Hancock says the side is finding form when it matters most.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ahead of their clash with Orange CYMS at Sid Kallas Oval on Saturday, Hancock reflected on his side's mixed season, saying the team has had to fight through a number of setbacks.
"From going along nicely in the pre-season, thinking that we were a top three side, all of a sudden, things shifted around, then we really had to battle and scrap our way through," he said.
"I think it's been a positive for us, now we are starting to build, we're starting to really earn our two points."
Coming off wins against Blayney and St Pat's, Hancock believes he has started to field the side that could take Cowra deep into the finals, lauding the efforts of Jeremy Gordon, who has recently returned from a stint on the sidelines with injury, right centre Lee McClintock and new recruit, Brydon Ramien.
"I know people say it was Blayney a couple of weeks ago but they really turned up and that was their best performance of the year," he said.
"Momentum is everything, you can't be at your best all year, we found that out last year.
"I have no doubt that we will get to the finals, but we are going to have to earn it and we've had to do that all year.. they've had to hang in there when the chips are down, so we are just hoping that it starts to all click."
With only for and against separating the two sides on the ladder, the Magpies will have a fight on their hands with CYMS, who have had mixed fortunes with injuries as well.
Hancock says the team will have their sights set on playmaker Ryan Griffin, who scored three tries against the Magpies earlier in the season.
"If they roll out their best side, they are going to be very tough but we're at the stage now where... we really want to challenge ourselves before we go into the finals," he said.
"We're not quite sure what they are going to throw at us but we will do what's been working for us."
Saturday's game will also be Indigenous Day and a celebration of the Old Boys for the Magpies and Hancock hopes the team will enjoy a home ground advantage.
"We're just going to play positive and hopefully use that to our advantage and hopefully we can use both of things to motivate us," he said.
"We really want a big crowd, it's been a tough year for these boys and we're starting to get the right people back on board."
