The Panorama Platypi are on track to defend their Western Women's Rugby League (WWRL) premiership following a hot start to the 2023 competition.
The Kevin Grimshaw-coached Platypi enjoyed a 2022 season to remember, posting a 20-10 win over Wiradjuri Goannas in December to become back-to-back premiers.
That historic victory over their arch-rivals came just eight months - and in the same calendar year - after the Platypi beat Woodbridge to claim their first WWRL premiership.
With their focus on recording what would be a history-making WWRL three-peat, the Platypi have enjoyed a fine start to their current campaign, winning three of four games played.
The Bathurst-based outfit put 10 tries on the Castlereagh Cougars in their season opener winning 60-10.
While dropping a game to Orange, going down to the Vipers 32-26 in Round Two, they then bounced back scoring another nine tries to defeat the Woodbridge Cup side 50-10 in Round Three.
In arguably their most dominant win, the Platypi took on Mudgee on Saturday at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex.
They again went on a try-scoring blitz, putting eight past the highly-touted Dragons to win 46-6.
Panorama calls on a star-studded side, including St George Illawarra Dragons NRLW player Cheynoah Amone, Western Rams stalwart Meredith Jones, and club stars Sarah Colman, Menzi White and Tiana Anderson, to name a few.
"We've got a good team, and they are a tight-knit bunch that all get along - that's how we operate," Grimshaw said.
"Even when we went to Coonabarabran for our first game, it was a four-hour drive, and I thought it might test us first-up, but everyone that was available got in the car, and the girls just loved it, and that's the kind of group they are," Grimshaw said.
"We lost that second game to the Vipers, but it was a good kick in the behind for us, and the girls probably needed it after winning two competitions and then going to Coonabarabran and winning by 50.
"Since then, you can see the difference in how they are training and playing, and they have shown that in those good wins over Woodbridge and Mudgee."
The strong Platypi outfit calls on a primarily local squad with Grimshaw touching on the club's role in the proud Rugby League community.
"Most of the girls are from Bathurst, and across all grades, I'd say at least 85% of our players come from here," Grimshaw said.
"It's sensational for the town and the club. I'm sitting at the oval now and I'm watching the Under 12s train, and I counted 18 girls, and they all have smiles on their faces, and they're enjoying it, and that's what it is all about."
Panorama's success took time to come to fruition, with Grimshaw explaining that the Platypi went through a lean period before their back-to-back premierships.
"I came here in about 2020, and the reason was that I could see them struggling, but I thought they had the potential," Grimshaw said.
"I said to the club, we needed to go out and get the girls and build on what we had, and in that first year, we won two games and made finals, and since then, we've won two grand finals."
The Platypi face their toughest test of the season when taking on the top-of-the-table and unbeaten Wiradjuri Goannas at Jack Arrow Sporting Complex on Sunday.
The Dubbo-based side knocked off the highly-fancied Orange Vipers 24-22 in Round One before a 34-24 victory over Castlereagh in Round Two and a convincing 42-16 win over Lachlan District in Round Four.
In addition to the highly-anticipated Platypi and Goannas meeting in Round Five of WWRL action this weekend, Lachlan District are still searching for their first win in the Open competition and appear to get every chance whn hosting Mudgee at Pioneer Oval on Saturday.
On Sunday the battle for fourth place and a chance to play finals intensifies, when the Woodbridge Cup side hosts the Castlereagh Cougars at Lawson Oval in Grenfell.
