The Platypi head to Orange this Saturday to meet Orange Emus for the first time this season and the host side is prepared.
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Emus coach Paul Ringland is not underestimating the premiership-winning Platypi.
“We’ve said for a long time Mahe Fangupo is the best player out here and he’s just been crowned player-of-the-tournament at the country championships, so yes, minimising his influence is a big factor this weekend,” Ringland said.
“But you can’t forget about the rest of the side, they’ve got classy guys all over the paddock and it’s always tough.
“But during our success we’ve always been pretty good at focusing on ourselves, what we’re doing and what we need to improve on.
“That mindset’s always served us pretty well so we’ll continue doing that.”
The Orange side has had some turnover – quite a few of the players lining up for Saturday’s clash did not play in the grand final.
“But there is a degree of unknown for us, there has been all season so far,” Ringland said.
“We’ve welcomed new players, we’ve been refining our structures and we’ve taken a bit of time to warm into things too while I think Forbes is largely the same as last year.”
The game is one feature of a huge weekend of rugby in Orange: Eastern Suburbs meet Parramatta Blues in the second edition of the Beach to Bush Regional Round.
Saturday’s grand final rematch kicks off at 1.10pm at Wade Park, it’s scheduled earlier to accommodate Eastern Suburbs’ Intrust Super Shute Shield clash with Parramatta at 3pm.
The two Central West clubs’ under 17s will play under lights after that from 5pm.