The bonus-point win moved Emus into fifth on the competition table with three rounds remaining before the finals.

Emus co-coach Matt Greatbatch was thrilled with his team’s win over the Platypi.

“Our forwards did exactly what we wanted – they laid the platform,” Greatbatch said.

“That’s good because it gives them room because we’ve got a pretty classy back line. Just to give them the room and the go-forward, it’s good.

“The backs had more ball and they took the right options today. I’m over the moon with the boys today.”

The host team wore pink jerseys to help raise money for breast cancer research but this was no distraction for the players.

Emus were on the board after two minutes when Owen Thomas skipped through the Forbes defence to score.

Emus were out to a 21-3 lead at the break with tries to Nik Granger and BJ McKenna the result of some dominant attack.

Mark Kingham made sure Emus scored the first points of the second half when he crashed over the line off the back of a rolling maul.

Forbes hit back minutes later when No8 Matt McRae charged through the Emus defence to score and bring the Platypi within 16 points.

But Emus couldn’t be caught and Granger’s second try right before full time secured the win.

“They’re dead set coming good at the right end of the season,” Greatbatch said.

“They’re finishing off games which is good now. They’ve just got to keep going.”

Nick Hughes-Clapp and Scott Bouffler were outstanding in the Emus forward pack and Granger showed his versatility in attack and defence.

Forbes coach Phil Prior had little to say after his side’s loss.

“We had a few missing today but we make no excuses,” Prior said.

“Our set pieces were terrible.”

Emus travel to Cowra this week where they will try to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

ORANGE EMUS 31 (Nik Granger 2, Owen Thomas, BJ McKenna, Mark Kingham tries, Nik Granger 3 conv) def FORBES 10 (Matt McRae try, Steve Betland conv and penalty goal).