The Roos saved one of their best performances of the year for Saturday but it wasn’t enough.

A 28-17 loss sees the Roos miss the finals for the first time since 2011 while for Emus, it was a win which sealed a third straight minor premiership.

The Roos dominated the contest at No. 1 Oval for long periods but, as has been the case all year, errors came at key times and Emus’ experience came to the fore late, with a try to Scott McLean on the bell icing the result.

RELATED:

 – Dubbo product Tom Robertson ready for biggest game of his Super Rugby career

“They (Emus) were just too experienced in their game management but that was one of the best, if not the best, games we’ve played all year,” Roos director of rugby Beau Robinson said post-game.

“We know we had the team to really give it a shake but we didn’t earn the right to get there (finals).

“It’s very disappointing that we didn't play anywhere near our potential throughout the season.”

The match had a finals-type feel with the two forward packs going head-to-head in the middle of the park while respective flyhalves Hamish Gordon and Kyran Bubb, while having vastly different styles, played key roles all game.

After Roos got through a mountain of defence early it was they who scored first and created the best opportunities from then on.

But, for the most part, a battered and bruised Emus outfit was able to hold them out and a try to Tom Goolagong with 20 minutes to go proved to be the decisive moment.

“It’s exactly what we need before finals,” Emus coach Paul Ringland said.

“Dubbo were playing for their lives. They were really physical and hard to break down so we’re really pleased to get the win.

“Today again wasn’t exactly the performance we wanted but it was a really good, tough, physical game and that’s what you need leading in to finals.”

The Roos were totally worthy of their lead after the first half hour with two missed conversions from Anthony Golding the only dampener on the performance.

At 10-0, courtesy of a Johnny Mafiti double, the hosts were in control but in the space of two minutes it all changed.

The Emus were favouring the left edge during the first 40 and a break down that side got them in attacking territory and after a penalty Bubb went himself to score.

Roos fullback Jock Brownhill knocked on shortly after the kick-off and that led to Lachie Harris scoring and Nigel Staniforth’s boot made it 14-10.

Despite arguably being the better side the Roos went into the sheds behind but they were the first to score after the restart.

Mafiti completed a rare front-rowers hat-trick when he barged over from close range to get his side back in front.

Golding missed a penalty shot soon after to leave the score at 17-14 and despite a number of Emus going off injured, the visitors scored next.

After opting to pick-and-go a number of times close to the line the Emus eventually spread it and Goolagong had acres of space out wide to score.

The Roos had plenty of ball late on but failed to create any genuine chances against a resolute Emus defence, and when the visitors got some ball late McLean burst through and scored in the game’s final play.

“I thought the boys really executed quite well but Emus ground it out,” Robinson said.

Ringland wasn’t overly concerned about the injuries suffered despite Harris, Matt Findlay, Tom Green and Jayden Norris all coming off in the second half.

The coach was staying upbeat after seeing his improve as the match wore on.

“Penalties are putting us under pressure and Dubbo was good enough to take advantage and had a strong rolling maul and they put us under the pump but later in the game we sorted our defence out, stopped giving penalties away and we got some turnovers,” he said.

Emus host Bathurst Bulldogs in next weekend’s major semi-final while the Roos now focus on the club’s second grade, third grade, and colts outfits, all of which will be playing finals.