The task will not get any easier facing the Tamworth Pirates on Saturday at Gunnedah’s Rugby Park where it’s also the club’s Ladies Day.

From here, the best the Devils can hope for is a second-tier title after successive losses squandered all hope of a top tier finals berth in Central North Rugby Union.

Gunnedah will play Walcha in the second tier semi-final on Sunday-week.

Co-coach Tim Walsh said it has been a less than memorable year for the club and the first grade squad in particular.

“This has been one of the most mixed up seasons I can remember in a long while,” he said.

“I can’t remember so many players coming and going in one year.

“We’ve had a huge number of players who have only played one game.

“There is not one week we had the same 15 players from the previous match.”

This time last season the club was training with up to 30 players on a Tuesday night alone. This year, the club struggled to field barely half that, which said a lot about the state of rugby in the North West, he added.

Gunnedah’s reserve grade is pushing for a semi-finals berth but is also having trouble drawing players on a regular basis.

“Honestly, we don’t deserve any accolades,” Walsh said.

“A lack of [team] consistency doesn’t help.

“But we haven’t played anywhere near our potential.”

The coach challenged his players to prove him wrong and deliver a strong performance against the Pirates – one which the team, club and its supporters can be proud of.

“There is a core group of players who have put in a lot of effort for not much reward,” he said.

“Pirates are running fourth, so if we’re a chance against any team above us, it’s going to be them.

“I know if we can win, it will go a long way in terms of confidence.

“It will give us the momentum heading into the second tier finals.”

The Pirates too have had their share of misadventure this season but haven’t faced Gunnedah since round one in early April when the Devils got home 25-15. 

“We played Pirates first game and we’re going to playing them last [regular season game],” Walsh said.

“They’re a team like us, a bit mixed up this season.

“They’ve had a few blokes coming and going through the grades.”

What Walsh wanted from his playing group was more of the first-half performance that was shown against Moree last weekend, despite the 35-0 loss.

“That half was a much better game,” he said.

“It was aggressive and accurate... we were right in it.

“A clinical display this weekend will get us the result we want.”

Ladies Day tickets for Saturday are available for purchase from Fleming and Ross in Gunnedah.