Football
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THE Riverina Rhinos made a stomping start to their Football NSW Regional League campaign with all sides going through the club's debut weekend in the competition undefeated.
Taking on the Western NSW Mariners and Northern Suburbs FA on Saturday and Sunday at EW Moore Oval, the new outfit surpassed nearly all expectations with not only their stunning results, but the way in which they came about.
Only the under 13s were held to a draw by the Mariners on Saturday morning.
The Rhinos won the rest of their games convincingly, putting their classy possession-first style to the test against strong opposition and passing with flying colours.
"We've put them on the stage and they've performed," GDFA president Mathew Curran said.
"This shows our kids are level with the kids their own age from metropolitan areas.
"If they keep training there's no difference.
"They've just needed an opportunity and it's never been there, but the door has opened and the pathway is here for them.
"If the people of Griffith want to see something, come to the next game and get behind them because you'll be blown away by the standard when you see it."
But Rhinos technical director Blaise Fagan said there was still plenty more to come from the four age groups.
"There's far greater potential, without a doubt," he said.
"Once they play a few more games the quality of football will come out even more.
"The pleasing thing is the younger ones are really working on the style we play.
"The problem is educating the parents.
"Parents are still worried about passing the ball backwards, which is what we do if it looks like we're going to lose the ball and want to maintain possession - that's the main thing.
"They don't understand that's what you do when you're under pressure."
The weekend also provided a boon for Griffith's economy with Curran estimating the two away teams brought around 300 visitors to town across the weekend.