DUBBO CYMS: Gains, losses, prospects and Q&A with Shawn Townsend

The Fishies felt like they never fully fired in 2024, but that has created plenty of motivation heading into this season.

Add in some exciting signings and there's plenty of optimism around those in green and white again.

Coach: Shawn Townsend

2024 finish: Third (knocked out in preliminary final)

Notable signings: Bayden Searle (Wyong), Afa Collins, Jordan Reynolds (Macquarie Raiders), Seaun Stanley Jr (Wellington)

Notable losses: Jordi Madden (Kurri Kurri), Jayden Merritt (Macquarie Raiders)

Does it feel like there's a point to prove among the players after last season's disappointment?

I can't speak for them but there does seem to be a lot of energy around the joint.

The last 15 years, nearly every time they have lost one, they've come back and won it the next year.

I don't know if that adds a little bit, but they lost in 16 and then won it in 17 and we lost it in 2022 and then won in 2023.

I'm not sure what it is, but there's a really good atmosphere.

Do you feel like the squad has better depth compared to last season?

I think so. If you went thought last year we didn't have the same team from one week to the next. There were suspensions, which were our fault, and then injuries.

We've got a lot more depth this year with some different players who have turned up and there are kids who are getting better too.

What impact has new halfback Bayden Searle had?

He's probably been back for four or five weeks and just straight away a couple of the younger players went 'oh, he's just the best to play with'.

He's on the ball and wants to do everything so it's just a breath of fresh air and he brings something different.

He was in the Newcastle team of the season last year, so our expectations were we were getting someone handy, but I think he's surprised the younger kids with how good he is.

He's pretty demanding and that's what we want.

Who has impressed you in pre-season?

The one we're over the moon with is Zac Williams. The way he left a few years ago wasn't really bad, but it probably wasn't great from both parties, but he's come back and just ripped in.

He's fit in really well and everyone's really comfortable around him. He doesn't say much but he's just happy and we were over the moon with the first trial against Orange, he was fantastic.

Then Jaymn Cleary has gotten bigger and stronger again ... it's just a natural progression now he's 24 or 25.

Who is the team to beat?

Everyone has got stronger again. Maybe the clubs realise just how tough it is to compete and win.

In the old Group 11 or Group 10, you might have only had to beat one or two teams to win the competition. Now, you've got to beat 10 or 11 teams ... and the good teams are getting better and the teams that finished down the bottom are stronger, as well.

I suppose it's Forbes and Mudgee but I wouldn't be surprised if there was an Orange CYMS, Orange Hawks or Dubbo Macquarie. There's Wellington and no one has said much about Parkes and I've got a fair bit of respect for the coach over there.

I'd go with Forbes and Mudgee though just with who they've signed and what they did last year.

Why they can win the title

The Fishies don't stay down and out for too long. Only twice since 2000 (excluding the COVID years) has there been back-to-back seasons without CYMS winning a first grade premiership. Winning is what they do.

There is real motivation after last year's disjointed performances and ultimately heartbreaking extra-time loss to Mudgee in the preliminary final. The side felt they were good enough to win the title.

Searle is a huge signing and potentially the best of the season. The CYMS junior is back after time in the Knights system and a few years as one of the best halves in the Newcastle competition.

Seaun Stanley Jr immediately improves the forward pack, Zac Williams provides great versatility and the core group of senior players is back again after shrugging off retirement rumours for another year.

Why they can't win the title

This side lost five games last season. Two of those were against Mudgee, another was against grand finalists Parkes, and one was a season-opening derby clash with Macquarie. They couldn't quite do it in those biggest games, which is a strange thing to say about CYMS.

They often had tries scored against them late on and performances were just slightly clunky throughout the entire season.

Depth has improved but the halves depth could still be a little light and the Fishies need to get back to the clinical and consistent type of footy that has made CYMS so successful over the years.