Fishies centre plays through ACL injury to win premiership with 'brothers'

Rory Lindley did his anterior cruciate ligament celebrating Dubbo CYMS' preliminary final win but there was no way he wasn't going to play in the grand final.

The centre came off the bench and even scored a late try as the Fishies defeated Bathurst Panthers 34-8 to claim the Tom Nelson under 18s Premiership at Apex Oval on Sunday, September 7.

Lindley was hurt in the celebrations a week before, after Alex Maas' sideline conversion in extra time secured a dramatic derby victory.

He revealed post-game he required an injection to play through the pain and share the moment with his teammates.

"Suspected ACL but I fought through the pain to play today," he said.

"I wasn't going to let myself sit on the bench. It was amazing [to score]."

Panthers produced an upset to defeat Orange Hawks in extra-time during the qualifying final before accounting for Lithgow Workies.

They responded to CYMS' opening try to level scores, but the minor premiers showed why they didn't lose a game in 2025, methodically going about their business.

Despite the loss, their performance is a shining light for the club that battled in every other grade.

Going one better

CYMS had lost the 2024 grand final to Orange Hawks and Lindley said the way they faded late in the game 12 months ago had spurred them to improve their fitness.

Lindley said it was an emotional journey the group had been on.

"It's an amazing feeling," he said,

"It's a lot better than last year losing it.

"These are my brothers, my best mates since I was a child, I grew up with them.

"So it's pretty amazing."