A lack of patience cost the Dubbo Rhinos in Saturday's New Holland Agriculture Cup opening round fixture at Apex Oval.
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The Rhinos went down 16-8 to the Parkes Boars in a scrappy match where both sides struggled to build momentum.
It was anyone's game at halftime with things locked at 5-all, but some key errors from the hosts and ability to capitalise on those from Parkes decided the contest.
"At halftime it was a real arm wrestle and I said that to the boys, it could have gone either way," Rhinos coach Mark Reijnen said.
"But there was little mistakes and impatience that led to critical errors.
"We didn't find touch with a kick once, missed a penalty from in front, and those things change the game.
Many of the Rhinos hadn't played together before and Reijnen confessed it will take some time before the competition sees the best of his side.
The day didn't start in ideal fashion as Parkes forfeited second grade, robbing many Rhinos of playing time, and Reijnen stated the day never really flowed properly after that.
The opening half of the main game was a tough slog, with the pace of the game never reaching any great speeds but while genuine chances were few and far between.
Things got a little more open in the second half, but still the Rhinos couldn't make their chances count.
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"We didn't build enough pressure when we were on their line," Reijnen said.
"A couple more phases would have been nice then and we could have set it up for the backs but the boys tried to go one out and score themselves.
"You can't do that and Parkes defended quite well. Ultimately we'd lose the ball and then we'd be down the other end of the field."
The Boars made those chances count as well, with Jack Laesser and new captain Joshua Van Der Stok both crossing for five-pointers in the win.
The Boars, featuring a side vastly different to the one which lost last season's grand final to Narromine, also had Sam Davis kick two key penalties.
We didn't build enough pressure when we were on their line.
- Rhinos coach Mark Reijnen
While it wasn't the perfect result for the Rhinos, there was still plenty of positives to take from the performance.
The coach highlighted improved fitness as one of the most pleasing aspects of the game but was adamant it needs to continue to get better still as the season goes on.
While experienced campaigners like James Dodd and Brady Brooks were full of effort, newcomers like Lachie McFeeters, Todd Edmunds, and youngster Dale Smith also showed there's plenty of potential within the squad.
Smith scored his side's only try when flying down the wing to plant the ball down in the second half.
"It was his first first grade game ... he was very promising and Todd Edmunds was too," Reijnen said.
"It was his first game of union. He's played league and had some time away and we've got a lot of work to do around the ruck but ran well and was good in defence.
"Lachie McFeeters had a cracker of a game. He's a workhorse."