Dubbo CYMS coach Tim Ryan has heaped praise on the Forbes Magpies big men leading into this weekend’s Group 11 grand final replay at Caltex Park.
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The Fishies meet the Magpies for the first time since last season’s decider, one the Forbes side won in a stunning upset after CYMS had been unbeaten all year up to that point.
While saying his side has well and truly moved on from that result, he labelled the Magpies pack, and Zac Merritt in particular, as the benchmark in bush footy.
“They’ve got the best pack in country rugby league and the best prop in the competition so there’s no doubt they’ll be tough,” he said, before speaking about Sunday’s contest.
“It’s the last game of the first round and we would have played every one after this so both teams will want to win.
They’ve got the best pack in country rugby league and the best prop in the competition.
- Tim Ryan on the Forbes Magpies
“We’re still developing and like I said last week, the table doesn’t mean a great deal. We’re just going to keep poking along and after this game we will have seen everyone and will know where we stand.”
While not focused on the ladder, Ryan’s men have impressed this season and sit undefeated at the top after six rounds.
The men in green and white are four points ahead of the Magpies, who are in a share of second place with both the Parkes Spacemen and Nyngan Tigers.
With this weekend marking the halfway point of the regular season, CYMS is well shaped for another minor premiership win but Ryan is adamant his side never looks beyond the upcoming match.
“I don’t think any club would say its side couldn’t get better,” he said.
“We’ve only played six games and we might be halfway through this season but in any other competition six games isn’t much so there’s a lot we can improve on.
“After this game we’ll have a beer and relax and then move on to the next one. You can’t get too far ahead of yourselves.”
CYMS will be without centre Jyie Chapman for this match and most likely the next against Westside after he suffered a hamstring strain in last round’s win over Nyngan.
Maika Serelevu comes into the starting side after appearing off the bench recently and Ryan has been impressed by the powerful runner’s efforts since making the move from Fiji during the off-season.
He’s always been willing to go that extra yard and centre is his preferred position,” he said.
The action at Caltex Park on Sunday starts with the League Tag at 10am.