NEVER write off a champion.
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While all eyes in Group 11 were on Caltex Park here at Dubbo for the bumper derby between CYMS and Macquarie, the Parkes Spacemen were sitting back at home and enjoying the bye after beating the Nyngan Tigers the week before.
The Tigers were the form side in the competition only weeks ago while Parkes, the 2013 Group 11 champions, had failed to catch the eye during the first half of the season.
But it doesn't seem like a coincidence that the Spacemen have returned to some of the best form around the same time captain-coach Pat Rosser has returned to the field for the first time in 2014.
This weekend they host the Fishies in their biggest game so far this season and they head into the match in the best possible state of mind after back-to-back wins and a refreshing bye.
And after missing the first half of the season due to off-season surgery, Rosser is back to lead his side at the business end of the season.
Having spoken to Rosser many times in relation to cricket and rugby league it's obvious the man has a fierce competitive streak and a strong will to win.
It was evident last year when the big prop took the ball up time and time again during their grand final win over CYMS.
CYMS were the form side all year but come finals time the Spacemen lifted and after showing real guts to scrape past Nyngan at a hostile Larkin Oval in the early rounds of the finals they had the momentum to defeat the Fishies in the decider.
There's always reports of drama behind the scenes at Parkes, with questions often asked about the relationship between the board and certain players but like any professional and classy team all doubts exit their minds when they run on the field.
It was a slow and disrupted start to 2014 for the Spacies but with Rosser returning, Alex Prout and Todd Barrow settling into their roles and the evergreen Dennis Moran and talented Tino Ionatana leading the side around the defending premiers are in no way out of this season's title race.
o o o
It was great to see footy sides of all ages and both codes take time before their matches on the weekend and have a minute of silence.
From the junior Kangaroos rugby sides on Saturday morning to the CYMS and Macquarie Group 11 first grade sides on Sunday afternoons, locals paid their respects for two different reasons.
The first was to honour the lives lost on flight MH17 while it also was done as part of the Rise For Alex round in the NRL, where support and donations were given to injured Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon.
There are plenty of things out there bigger than sport and it was a touching and classy moment from local players and spectators.