WHAT kind of coach is happy for another team to win a premiership even if it comes at the expense of his own outfit? Would you believe the answer is a Bathurst Bulldogs coach?
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It's actually not quite as odd as it sounds, but rather a reflection on how highly the Bathurst club regards a Blowes Clothing Cup first grade premiership.
The second grade Bulldogs outfit locked up the minor premiership last Saturday and while that is an important step as they look for back-to-back titles, assistant coach Pip McIntosh revealed that is not the focus.
"At the start of the year, mine and Adam's [Dwyer, head coach] goal was for first grade to win the comp. If we can help in any way there, we're happy to help," McIntosh said.
"History shows in our club, if first grade is going well, second grade will go well.
"I want all these blokes to play first grade and I want them wanting to play first grade. I've often said that anyone who is comfortable in second grade is a third grader."
Part of the process in helping Bulldogs' first XV - who can cement themselves the minor premiership by beating Orange Emus this Saturday - means that the line-up McIntosh and Dwyer have to work with each week is constantly changing.
But McIntosh says that "it's nature of the beast having those changes" and is glad to see players working hard to force their way into the top side.
"We are usually making four changes a week so the boys have adjusted really well to that. Adam Dwyer, the head coach, he's introduced a bit of a different style of play, but the boys have bought into it," he said.
"The competition for spots is probably our strongest thing. There are one or two spots where we can't afford injuries, but others where we are really well off for depth.
"All the credit goes to the players, they have put in this year, they've worked their arses off. We haven't eased off the fitness in anyway, if anything we've picked it up in the last couple of weeks.
"Everyone is working hard, so it's good to see them getting some rewards out of it."
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If first grade does beat Emus this Saturday, they will join seconds as well as the Bulldogs' colts in being minor premiers.
In colts Bulldogs are undefeated after 11 rounds and sit 20 competition points clear of closest rivals Dubbo.
"We've got an outstanding colts team, they are a very good team," McIntosh said.
"It just seems that their comp is going good too, they've been pushed their last couple of games. At the business end it's all tightening up a little bit."
The Bulldogs' second grade outfit currently sits 12 points clear of closest rivals Orange Emus - this Saturday's opponent - on the ladder.
They have suffered just one loss - falling 21-8 to Emus in round nine - and average more than 40 points per game, but McIntosh knows that a title defence is by no means a given.
"The last month or so it's been fairly solid competition. Orange City had a very improved squad last time we played them so they'll be difficult, Dubbo have always given us a hard time and Emus are the only team to beat us, they beat us quite well actually," McIntosh said.
"So it's going to be a tough competition to win, very tough, which is good, the comp needs it."
