Pat’s have been crippled by injuries across the club, forcing many younger players to step up into key positions, and it leaves the team currently sitting in fifth.

At first it’s hard to believe that Pat’s have now lost the same amount of matches they did in the entire last season – four.

But with a number of players leaving the team after the grand final and the many with injuries, fifth place looks very commendable.

“We started really well. We were playing really good footy but then the injuries just kept coming. At one stage we had 15 to 16 guys out over two grades. It’s affected the whole club. The long weekend has come at a really good time for us with CYMS to follow then the bye,” Pat’s coach Kurt Hancock said.

“Joe Batchelor has been cleared to start training which is good. Our problem has been that we’ve lost players at key positions, like Benjamin John at nine. Our fullback, nine and seven have all been affected. Garry (Reilly, five-eighth) has had no help around that area.

“We had Nathan Lawrence at fullback and then Tim Holman who was starting to form a good partnership with Garry. Then Joey Coughlan was gone at halfback. That spine of attack has been affected.

“The young guys in there have been inconsistent. They’ve been playing above themselves but their inconsistency shows, especially in attack.”

Pat’s began the premier league season with wins over the Oberon Tigers and local rivals Bathurst Panthers, but from there things started to look unstable.

The still-undefeated Lithgow Workies ran away with the game late to hand the Saints their first loss before the Blayney Bears hung on to make it two defeats on the trot.

Joy from a grand final rematch win over the Cowra Magpies was short-lived when the Bathurst side were humbled by the Mudgee Dragons and beaten by the Orange Hawks.

Despite the absent players, Hancock said the team is lacking motivation. 

“If we put in the hard work our luck can turn around. I haven’t ever been involved in a club with so many injuries, so I guess it’s a good learning experience for me as well,” he said.

“We’ve had to reassess our goals but we’re still going to be aiming for a home semi-final.

“A problem is that we’ve been strong in one area then not the other. We’d be positive in attack but then be negative in defence.”

The misfortune of some has at least given some younger talent at the club a chance to get some valuable first grade experience.

“Hudson White and Jack Mackey have been good and so has Tim Collins. The inconsistency is there but they’re still learning with their first season in first grade, and you can see that,” Hancock said.

“Them playing first grade will really benefit the club over the next 12 to 24 months. They just need to understand that they’ve got to start backing themselves.”