Opening up with a 35-point victory over Numurkah, the Road has been gallant in its efforts against arguably the competition’s three best sides in Cobram, Mulwala and Tongala.
But unfortunately for coach Kevin O’Donoghue and his side, you don’t get rewarded for honourable losses, making this week’s trip to Deniliquin crucial.
“The past three weeks have been pretty much the exact same for us, falling to three very good teams, but we are still confident that we are playing some good footy at stages,” O’Donoghue said of his team’s mindset after three straight losses.
“Hopefully there is a win around the corner and we can really start to climb back up the ladder.”
Coming up against an undefeated Rams team on its home deck, he understands it will be a tough assignment to go across the border and secure the four points.
“We just need to stay in the game a bit longer and I think we’ll be every chance,” he said.
“Deni is in really good form and they have a big advantage at the big ground up there, so it is another big challenge for us.
“The focus for us will be to improve our ball use and just connecting with our forwards a bit better.
“We have been used to those tough matches over the first month though, so hopefully we can just keep doing what we have been and just sustain it a little bit longer.”
In terms of how his team will be lining up, O’Donoghue said there could be a couple of changes.
“Ben Bingham pinged a calf last week so he’ll be out, but we have a few who might come back in Charlie Boyer and Kurt Allen,” he said.
“So we do have a few different options to weigh up at selection.”
It has been a different story for Deniliquin in the first month of the season, facing four sides in Barooga, Echuca United, Finley and Rumbalara who are yet to win a game.
“Confidence is high and it needs to be, but the reality is we haven’t had the toughest draw first up,” Deniliquin Rams coach Ash Morris said after last week’s win at Rumbalara.
“We certainly know that if we are going to compete against the likes of Cobram, Moama and Tongala we have to play confident and improve.
“Next week against Congupna presents as a really exciting challenge for our boys and we can’t wait to get into it.”
Elsewhere, Nathalia will be desperate to turn its poor patch of form around as it welcomes fellow winless team Finley to Nathalia Recreation Reserve.
The biggest story to come out of the Murray League in the first month of the season, the five-time reigning premier, the Purples, have been a shell of their former selves, sitting in 10th spot with a percentage of just 33.86.
Finley on the other hand has been much more competitive, and after a stretch of tough matches, will be hoping to break the duck.
Moama will be looking to extend its stay atop the table as it welcomes an out-of-sorts Barooga.
A percentage boost will be front of mind for Mulwala as it hosts cellar dweller Echuca United.
After falling to Deniliquin in the Eddie Betts show last week, the task doesn’t get any easier for Rumbalara as it makes the trip to Cobram.
Meanwhile, Tongala rounds out the weekend’s action as it plays host to a Numurkah team itching to take a scalp.
