Narrabri coach John Rumsby is a man who likes to measure success by the failures that preceded it.
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So when he speaks about the Blues’ white-hot form this season, he also mentions the lean years the side went through to get to this stage.
It is his way of underlining how far the side have come and the rewards gained from perseverance.
It is also his way of telling beleaguered outfits Wee Waa, who the Blues beat 116-4 last round, and their opponents on Sunday at Jack Woolaston Oval, the winless Collegian, that today’s pain often morphs into tomorrow’s rapture.
“Yes, it was a huge win (against Wee Waa) but Narrabri has been there,” he said.
“I remember when Jamie Lyon broke his contract with Parramatta and come back to Wee Waa to play and Wee Waa beat Narrabri 110-6. And that’s the year (2004) they won the competition when he came back.
“We were in the same boat (as them now),” he added. “We were trying to rebuild and get people playing, and they beat us 110-6.
“It’s not like it (teams getting flogged) hasn’t happened before. It’s about trying to stay level-headed about the whole thing. We’re only three rounds in (to the competition).”
The aspect of the Blues’ performance against Wee Waa that pleased Rumsby the most is something he will be looking for his players to repeat against the Warriors – maintain their intensity throughout the match.
In other Group 4 games, Gunnedah host South West Robins on Saturday and the Bears travel to Wee Waa on Sunday.