Jordan Davis has been involved with the Dubbo Rhinos in some capacity for the club’s entire 25 year history.
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That milestone will be celebrated this weekend but in all that time and through all that has happened at the club which started as Dubbo Old Boys, Davis has not seen an injury crisis like the one which has engulfed the men in black and gold in recent weeks.
As many as 17 players were reportedly missing last week through injury, one of the major reasons the club forfeited all three grades to the Cowra Eagles, but a number are back on deck for Saturday’s Blowes Clothing Cup match.
And it’s not just any match.
It’s a derby and Mark Melville Cup match against the club’s fierce rivals, the Dubbo Kangaroos, while a number of club veterans and heroes will be watching the match before attending the club’s 25 year anniversary dinner afterwards.
“It definitely is the biggest game of the year,” Davis said.
“Everyone is excited and it will be good to see a lot of old faces there for the game and some blokes are even coming out of retirement for it so it should be good.”
The club held a mini recruitment drive during the week, allowing people short-term registration deals in order to not only help the club field sides but also give people the chance to take on the Roos.
And while some people may see it as just a way to stave off more forfeits, Davis said it was a matter of pride and was adamant he wants his team to be competitive come Saturday afternoon.
“We take pride in the jersey and what it means to everyone,” he said.
“I’ve been part of the club for 25 years and it means a lot to me.
“We want to be competitive to start with. We’d love to win that Cup back and that’s the number one priority for me.”
The Rhinos will wear special one-off jerseys on Saturday, a throwback to the club’s past ‘bumblebee stripe’ design and they will be auctioned off after the game at the club’s anniversary dinner.
The Roos will start as overwhelming favourites, they won a physical corresponding match earlier this season 20-0, and now sit second on the ladder while the Rhinos haven’t tasted victory since May 13.
And while Davis says there is no love lost between the two Dubbo sides and this weekend is a match all Rhinos look forward to, the biggest focus is going to be on the players doing their own job right.
“We’re just going to go out there, try and getting everything right and hopefully it comes together,” he said. “Just the simple stuff and getting all that right. Getting to the breakdown, cleaning out and making sure those little things are done right before we try and do anything flashy.”
Davis was also keen to praise to committee, led by president Ian Burns, and those who have helped the club in recent weeks but lamented the injury crisis which has affected the side’s ability to be competitive.