Competition: New Holland Cup

Ladder position: First

Finals state of play: Locked in. The Boars are yet to be defeated this season and are seven points clear of the second-placed CSU Mitchell side.

Positives: A lot has gone right for the Boars in their quest to defend last year's New Holland Cup premiership. The signature running rugby style of the Boars is wonderful to watch, and despite almost the entire back line being overhauled since last season, they've barely missed a beat. Luke Hitchcock in particular has provided the backs with an added dimension of toughness, energy and x-factor. The scrum has improved massively this season, and there's a lot of experience and depth in this pack.

Need to improve: A few times this season the Boars have got off to some sluggish starts, and that's not something you want to do in finals. Complacency occasionally creeps in during games too, so it will be about maintaining their effort for 80 minutes.

Coach says: "It has been a really refreshing year so far. I personally have really enjoyed playing with the boys."

"They show up Tuesday and Thursday nights and are always looking to improve week on week."

"We're currently sitting at 14 wins from 14 so I can't complain too much, however I really think in the next six weeks we can step into another gear."

Prediction: Champions. You'd be a brave person to bet against the Boars making it back-to-back flags.

Competition: Group 11

Ladder position: Fifth

Finals state of play: Well in the mix. With winnable games against Nyngan and Macquarie coming up, the Spacemen can start to build some momentum. They're on 8 points, four behind the third-placed Macquarie.

Positives: The defence has really started to aim up in the past couple of weeks, allowing the exceptional quintet of Sam Dwyer, Chad Porter, Jack Creith, Bailey Hartwig and Connor Farrer to flourish in attack. After a slow start to the season, the attacking combinations and set plays are starting to mesh well. Creith is having one hell of a season.

Need to improve: Composure. There are so many talented players in this side and the only reason they've dropped a couple of close games is just not quite getting the basics right. Not pushing the pass so much and completing sets is one of those basics to improve on.

Coach says: "I'm really happy with our effort and attitude so far. We have lost a couple of games that we probably shouldn't have though."

"Hopefully we have learnt where we went wrong in those games and can turn things around at the back end of this year when it counts."

Prediction: Runners up. The Dubbo CYMS coach said the Parkes were easily the best team they had faced all season, and with all their personnel back and firing, the Spacies can absolutely challenge for the title if they play their best footy.

Competition: Western Premier League

Ladder position: Sixth

Finals state of play: The Cobras are currently sitting one spot outside of the finals, and they have hit a flat patch at the worst possible time after starting the season well. The saving grace for the Cobras is the fact four of the last five games are at home. No slip-ups from here.

Positives: Plenty! It's only the second season for the Cobras and they already have a really identifiable, counter attacking brand of football. It's exciting to watch when they are on song. Injuries have cost them some key personnel, but it's allowed players like Alec Bateson, Ben Coultas and Hayden Westcott to step up and lead the way.

Need to improve: Finishing. Football is all about the chances you take, not the amount you generate. Unfortunately for the Cobras despite their attacking style often generating plenty of opportunities, they lack the class and composure to finish it off. If they can get Mitch Hutchings back from injury, he can fix that up.

Coach says: "We have been very hot and cold this year. At the beginning of the season we were strong but have since become complacent and lost our winning mindset."

"Our finals hopes will be determined by our attitude and confidence to take on teams in the last five games of the season."

Prediction: Sixth. Finals look like they are slipping away for the Cobras. Let's hope they can finish on a high note and prove this prediction wrong.

WHAT ELSE IS MAKING WAVES IN SPORT:

- Exceptionally open fields for Parkes trots meeting tonight

- Parkes take on Forbes for Round 9 of junior rugby league

- Peak Hill appealing Woodbridge Cup sanctions that 'seem harsh'

Competition: AFL Central West Tier 2

Ladder position: First

Finals state of play: Like the Boars, the Panthers are undefeated this season as they defend their 2020 premiership. They are eight points clear of the second-placed Cowra Blues and have the almost unbelieveable percentage of 1295.92. If they don't make the grand final something has gone terribly wrong.

Positives: There was a lot of upheaval in the playing ranks from last year's premiership side, but doesn't appear to have mattered! The new Panthers have slot in seamlessly and coach Mitch Stubberfield has them playing a high possession style that other clubs are finding hard to defend against. The midfield brigade, led by Stubberfield and Ryan Alexander, wouldn't be out of place in Tier 1. They can do it on the inside and outside.

Need to improve: There's not a lot the Panthers can improve on to be honest. At this stage of the season it'll be about ensuring the side does not get complacent, and is willing to get down and dirty for the contested footy.

Coach says: "We've obviously started our season really strongly and are playing great footy which is great for the club; but the most exciting part for us is how our new players are progressing and starting to understand the game more."

"I believe we will have a tougher second half of the season, if conditions stay the way they are currently it'll be tough, congested footy and will test us as a team."

Prediction: Champions

Competition: Woodbridge Cup

Ladder position: Third

Finals state of play: The Boomers have a finals spot sewn up, and are well in the mix to make it four premierships in a row.

Positives: The forwards are just so tough and well drilled. Everyone in the team knows their role and even with the retirement of Jesse Durning, their depth is impressive.

Need to improve: Discipline. Needless penalties have been costing the Boomers in important moments.

Coach says: "We'll play Canowindra again and I'm confident we can roll 'em. We just need to work on the little things."

Prediction: Third. Sorry Boomers fans, despite a soft draw in the lead-up to finals, both Canowindra and Manildra have looked a step above this year and have really started to flex their muscles of late. If anyone knows how to get the job done in finals though, it's Trundle and an astonishing four flags in a row is well within reach.

Competition: Woodbridge Cup

Ladder position: Sixth

Finals state of play: A lot will depend on whether the Roosters are successful in appealing the sanctions that Woodbridge Cup imposed on them. If the six points are stripped, they are obviously not going to make finals. If they aren't, they are still a mathematical, if improbable, shot.

Positives: The club has a great core of local juniors, and when they click, it is great to watch.

Need to improve: The defence has been leaking too many points, and they need to tighten that right up with tough games against Trundle and Canowindra coming up.

Coach says: "We've haven't gone too bad. We've faced a fair few injuries, but the fact most of us have played together for years means we have been able to cover those well."

Prediction: Sixth. Again, a lot will rest on the sanctions.

Competition: Woodbridge Cup

Ladder position: Fifth

Finals state of play: With the top five making the finals in Woodbridge Cup, Eugowra are sitting nicely and at this stage for Brad McMillan's men it'll be about generating some momentum.

Positives: They've finally got a consistent spine, and it shows. They way they can stream down the field on the back of quick play-the-balls makes them hard to defend and great to watch.

Need to improve: Penalties and an at-times soft middle are costing the defence. If they tighten that up they can match it with the best.

Coach says: "I'm happy with our progression. We have finally got a bit of continuity in our team list and our combinations are starting to become more fluent."

"Defensively we have started to gel as a team and I'm confident we can keep continuing to build."

Prediction: Fourth. There's no reason why Eugowra can't win the flag though if they play their best footy. They can match it with the best but they'll have to do it the hard way given their ladder position.

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