Dubbo CYMS’ Indigenous round clash with Dubbo Westside will be extra memorable for Fishies centre Jyie Chapman, as the side will wear jerseys designed by, and representing, his family.
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CYMS will wear the special one-off jerseys during Sunday’s match at Caltex, with the patterns representing the Chapman family tree.
Western Rams representative Jyie will run out in the centres in the main match while Jaidyn plays in the under-18s and Maddi plays League Tag for the Fishies.
“It is very special,” Jyie Chapman said.
“My Aunty designed it, she does a lot of the painting so it will be good to run out wearing it.”
While the pride in wearing a jersey with such a personal connection will motivate Chapman on Sunday, he admits the chance to go through the regular season undefeated is keeping the whole sqaud focused.
The minor premiership is all but certain to end up with the Fishies, who sit undefeated at the top of the ladder, eight points clear of their nearest rivals.
“It is a big motivation and it was something we didn’t talk about at the start of the season but now, I know I want to go through the season undefeated,” Chapman said.
“But we’ve got big challenges ahead in the last three weeks with Westside, Parkes at Parkes and then Nyngan.”
CYMS will start Sunday’s derby as overwhelming favourites but Chapman has warned his side can’t underestimate the Rabbitohs.
The men in red and green have only won once this season and are no chance of playing finals.
“Coming into the end of the year you can’t take any side lightly and we don’t want to take our foot off and we want to push on for the last three weeks,” Chapman said.
CYMS scored a dominant 46-4 win over the struggling Wellington Cowboys last week but Chapman said it was a far from perfect performance from his side.
The Fishies began slowly last week, according to the elusive centre, and if repeated a side with as many attacking threats as Westside could capitalise.
Luke Jenkins has again not been named for CYMS but could be a chance to play while Alex Ronayne remains out with a hamstring strain suffered at Nyngan two weeks ago.
Wade Kavanagh has again been named at hooker in the absence of Jenkins while the current three man bench could again be boosted by under-18s player Jack Davis, who impressed on debut last weekend.
Fellow junior Jayden Merritt has again been named in the side and is set to start in the second row alongside Jordan Reynolds.
Sunday’s action begins with the League Tag at 11am while the first grade match is scheduled to kick off at 2.30pm.