Recurring issue still remains for one team as coaches praise veterans

CHAD PORTER SAYS: "It was a good all-round performance for us the main goal was to work on our defence and to keep them scoreless, we did that really well.

"Jake Porter, 'Smedey' (Jacob Smede) and Mal (Folau) were all standouts but there wasn't a bad player on the field.

"Everyone stood up and that's how we have to play going into the semis in a couple of weeks. Credit to Hawks, they kept coming all game."

RESULT: Defeated by Dubbo CYMS 18-16

JACK BUCHANAN SAYS: "We've had a really tough for games leading into finals with Mudgee, St Pat's, Dubbo CYMS and then Panthers next week.

"It's really got us in good stead. Over the last two weeks we've probably been a bit below par and today (Sunday) we sort of showed that we can be thereabouts.

"We probably let a few opportunities go but we will definitely take a lot of positives out of that game for sure."

RESULT: Defeated Orange CYMS 18-16

SHAWN TOWNSEND SAYS: "Between 'Bono' (Alex Bonham), Jordi (Madden) and Claude (Gordon), we've got enough experience and kicking nuance to kick into the corners and put some pressure on them.

"I think we gave away three seven-tackle sets just from bad kicks so it was a bit disappointing."

RESULT: Defeated Macquarie 44-20

CHRIS OSBORNE SAYS:"I thought we scored some really good tries in that first half. There were a couple of things we'd worked on during the week and a few of those things came off.

"Today we went forward, we played to our edges and defended really well. That first half really set us up.

"Dubbo were a good, physical side in the middle. I said to a couple of boys on the bench at one point 'Gee, that really get stuck in a physical through there'.

"That puts us up into fifth but those two points that were taken off us at the start of the year for a paperwork error are really hurting us at the moment. Wellington and Hawks are in the same boat. That could see us miss out on two bites at the cherry."

RESULT: Defeated Lithgow 40-24

CAMERON GREENHALGH SAYS: "It was a hard game, we haven't played Lithgow before and we had to work hard all game.

"There is still a bit of improvement in us and we should have everyone back on deck next week.

"Benny Maguire is proving hard to stop when is on, he scored three tries on Saturday and would have to be up there on the try-scorer list."

RESULT: Defeated by Bathurst St Pat's 44-20

JACK KAVANAGH SAYS: "We're lacking those couple of key players at the moment, and we have been for over the last six weeks.

"There's a few leaders we're lacking. We're not far off the level of the teams above us. You put those leaders back in there and it's a whole different team."

RESULT: Defeated by Wellington 46-34

JAKE BETTS SAYS: "I'm still confident that on our day we can compete with anyone but we've got to be better than that.

"If we get a reaction out of the boys this week then that'll give us an indication ahead of finals."

RESULT: Defeated Nyngan 42-16

CLAY PRIEST SAYS: "They are a good side, they've got some quality young kids and they'll be a contender in years to come if they keep their squad."

RESULT: Defeated Bathurst Panthers 46-34

JUSTIN TOOMEY-WHITE SAYS: "Really pleased with the win today (Sunday), against a great Panthers team that play for 80 minutes.

"It was a high-scoring game but it would have been a great game for the crowd to enjoy, sets up a tough game on Sunday against Forbes."

RESULT: Defeated by Forbes 40-24

PETER MORRIS SAYS: "I've got a brave little football team who weren't too far away again. Obviously our season's done but they were out there playing for each other.

"We led until we had two blokes sin binned, which doesn't help. We defended with 12 for a while, which hurts, and we did have Riley Dukes out, who's pretty handy, but they stuck in and had a dig.

"Our plan was never to win the comp this year but it would have been nice to be a bit closer to the semis. Still, we've really stood up throughout the year."

RESULT: Defeated by Parkes 64-0

SHANE RODNEY SAYS: N/A

RESULT: Defeated by Mudgee 42-16

JAMES TUITAHI SAYS: N/A