By MARK CASHMAN

Keeping the game viable in western Sydney is a vexed question at the best of times and Penrith head coach John Muggleton just feels that the Emus are heading into the fight for their survival with not one but two hands tied behind their backs.

The Emus are a month away from the start of the Shute Shield and the realist that Muggleton has always been says that the up tick that everyone one is looking for is still some time away.

“It’s a tough slog that’s for sure,” Muggleton told Rugby News.

“We had good numbers at training last week but the reality is that many of the good players that we brought through last year have been poached by other clubs.

“Four have taken up offers at Warringah (headed by handy flyhalf Dean Blore) and there are another couple who have moved to the Two Blues and there is no guarantee that we will lose others during the season.