Fishies' title defence begins with local derby
Alex Bonham will line up at five-eighth for CYMS in their round one clash on Sunday. Photo: CHERYL BURKE
DUBBO CYMS coach Tim Ryan is expecting 2016 to produce one of the more competitive Group 11 seasons seen in recent times, adding his round one opponents, Macquarie, as a side to watch.
The Fishies are aiming for three straight premierships this year but Ryan feels the majority of his rivals have improved their rosters during the off-season.
The blockbuster local derby between CYMS and Macquarie kicks off the 2016 action at Caltex Park on Sunday.
"Each year you hear different things about players and teams getting better but this year from what I've seen it will come true for them," Ryan said of the Raiders.
"Macquarie will be better, Nyngan will be better, Forbes will be better, Parkes will be strong again and Narromine are better too."
After a delay to the season following Cobar's departure to the Barwon Darling League, Ryan said it was "about time" the action began on the field.
His side have enjoyed a fairly quiet off-season with just two trials, against Kurri Kurri and Westside, played as well as the Parkes Nines.
With the last two premierships under the belt, Ryan expects no premiership hangover to start the season.
However, he did admit it would be foolish to deny there would be no challenges in motivating his side during the season after so much recent success.
"They all seem pretty keen and when we go through the season it might be tough at times but everyone is raring to go, especially after the week's wait," he said.
"It hasn't been a challenge at all but it could be."
Ryan described boom off-season recruit Isaac Gordon as "short of a gallop" with the former Cronulla Shark having only played in the Westside trial up to this point.
Gordon will feature in the backline on Sunday but Ryan was hesitant to say where exactly as he waits to see how Jyie Chapman, Kieran Shipp and Colby Pellow pull up after Saturday's match for Group 11.
"We've still got a couple of missing too, John Grey and Alex Ronayne are unavailable but he (Gordon) will do a job there and we've got a lot of blokes who can play various positions," the coach said.
Ryan was pleased with Gordon's efforts during pre-season, saying he had led a number of training sessions and was "everything we hoped".
A bumper crowd is expected at Caltex on Sunday with the clash between the Fishies and Raiders always providing plenty for those in the stands.
"It's always good to come up against them in a derby," Ryan said.
"It's always a willing contest and they've improved their roster."
The action gets under way with the League Tag at 11am, followed by the under-18s, reserves and the first grade.
CYMS: 1 Kieran Shipp, 2 Isaac Gordon, 3 Jyie Chapman, 4 Colby Pellow, 5 Hayden Howell, 6 Alex Bonham, 7 Matt Toole, 8 Jarryn Powyer, 9 Luke Jenkins, 10 Ilisoni Vonomateiratu, 11 Jordan Reynolds, 12 Billy Sing, 13 Ben Marlin, 14 Lincoln Kavanagh, 15 Shaquille Gordon