Off the field, the Group was brought closer together than ever after the Ryan Medley accident at Wellington and Macquarie’s honouring of great mate, Perry Meredith.

ROUND ONE: 

‘A good day for a good mate, Pez’

Macquarie starts its 2017 campaign in style, knocking off Nyngan 26-20 during Perry Meredith Memorial Day. The club retired the number 13 jersey worn by one of its favourite sons after Meredith’s passing late last year. 

CYMS coach Tim Ryan says there has to be concerns for the competition after his side hammers Westside 102-0 in the season opener. Wade Kavanagh scored six tries.

SCORES: Dubbo Macquarie 26 def Nyngan Tigers 20, Dubbo CYMS 102 def Dubbo Westside 0, Forbes Magpies 60 def Wellington 20, Parkes Spacemen 56 def Narromine Jets 20.

ROUND TWO: 

Parkes recruit Fletcher Strong announces himself as one of the fastest players in the competition after three scintillating tries against Macquarie. 

SCORES: Parkes Spacemen 30 def Dubbo Macquarie 26, Forbes Magpies 46 def Dubbo Westside 10, Dubbo CYMS 32 def Narromine Jets 16, Nyngan Tigers 26 def Wellington Cowboys 22. 

ROUND THREE: 

Group 11 investigates the logistics of staging the 2017 grand finals away from Caltex Park after the cost attached to staging the day in Dubbo rose.

CYMS rises to its first challenge of the season, coming from behind at the break to defeat Parkes 36-22, while Nyngan star Jone Yacadrau bags four tries in the Tigers’ win over Narromine.

SCORES: Wellington 54 def Dubbo Westside 16, Dubbo CYMS 36 def Parkes Spacemen 22, Forbes 34 def Dubbo Macquarie 12, Nyngan Tigers 50 def Narromine Jets 24.

ROUND FOUR:

Despite the long awaited return of gun half Josh Merritt, Macquarie proves little trouble for CYMS in the Dubbo derby, the Fishies running out 48-16 winners.

Merritt hasn’t played since last season’s finals series at Nyngan when he was sent off in a fiery semi at Larkin Oval. He received a seven week suspension.

The Jets raise almost $500 from their Beanies for Brain Cancer fundraiser, but go down to Wellington 34-28 and Nyngan hands Forbes its first loss of the season.

SCORES: Dubbo CYMS 48 def Dubbo Macquarie 16, Nyngan Tigers 28 def Forbes Magpies, Parkes 80 def Dubbo Westside 6, Wellington 34 def Narromine 28.

ROUND FIVE: 

Bouyed by a win over the defending premiers, Nyngan captain-coach Stewart Mills says his side is now gunning for Group 11 giants Dubbo CYMS ahead of the two club’s eagerly anticipated clash in round six.

On the field, the thoughts of the entire rugby league community turn Ryan Medley, who suffers a serious neck injury in CYMS’ reserve grade clash with Wellington. 

Medley is airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital after being tackled awkwardly during the first half of the match. 

SCORES: Dubbo Macquarie 50 def Dubbo Westside 20, Dubbo CYMS 58 def Wellington Cowboys 12, Nyngan Tigers 40 def Parkes Spacemen 22, Forbes Magpies 48 def Narromine Jets 16.

ROUND SIX:

The family of Ryan Medley says it is “blown away” by the amount of love, support and best wishes from the Dubbo and wider community following his injury while playing in Dubbo CYMS’ reserve grade match.

The Ryan Medley Appeal is set up and in just over 12 hours more than $20,000 is donated to Medley and his family to help with the financial burden involved with such a serious injury.

Parkes gun Sam Dwyer labels Forbes prop Zac Merritt the best player in the comp, but the Spacies get the job done in the southern derby, Chad Porter scoring four tries in a 28-18 result at Jock Colley Field over the June long weekend.

In the second part of the staggered sixth round, Narromine breaks its duck thanks to a goal after the siren to halfback Corey Cox giving them a 36-34 win over Westside.  

CYMS flexes its muscle after being called out by Mills, defeating Nyngan 40-14.

SCORES: Dubbo CYMS 40 def Nyngan Tigers 16, Dubbo Macquarie 32 def Wellington 24, Narromine Jets 36 def Dubbo Westside 34, Parkes 28 def Forbes 18.

ROUND SEVEN:

Mind games or a genuine rap? CYMS coach Tim Ryan lauds Forbes as the best pack Country Rugby League wide in the lead-up to the two sides’ grand final rematch.

The Fishes prove too good, running out big 46-22 winners over the Magpies, with game-ending injuries to guns Merritt and Maguire hurting the champs.

While Narromine stuns Macquarie in a 26-22 result, the upset of the season.

SCORES: Narromine 26 def Macquarie 22, Dubbo CYMS 46 def Forbes Magpies 22, Nyngan Tigers 56 def Dubbo Westside 18, Parkes Spacemen 40 def Wellington 12.

ROUND EIGHT:

It was more of a contest than their previous clash, but CYMS still proved way too good for Westside in a 72-12 drubbing to start the season round.

Nyngan and Macquarie can’t be split, fighting out a 14-all draw.

SCORES: Dubbo CYMS 72 def Dubbo Westside 12, Forbes 22 def Wellington 6, Nyngan 14 drew with Macquarie 14, Parkes Spacemen 30 def Narromine 16.

ROUND NINE:

Dubbo CYMS thrashes Narromine, Macquarie holds on to fifth despite losing to the second placed Spacemen, Nyngan puts the cleaners through Wellington 66-12 and Forbes lap Westside in the biggest win of the weekend.

SCORES: Dubbo CYMS 62 def Narromine 6, Nyngan 66 def Wellington 12, Parkes 26 def Macquarie 22, Forbes 84 def Dubbo Westside 4.

ROUND 10:

Nearing the business end of the season, Forbes lands a blow on Macquarie’s 2017 campaign with a 24-10 victory in Dubbo. The loss ensures the Raiders can’t finish the regular season any higher than fifth, while the defending premiers look set to claim a top three spot.

Elsewhere, Wellington keeps its slim finals hopes alive with a victory over Westside in a high-scoring affair at Kennard Park.

SCORES: Forbes 24 def Macquarie Raiders 10, Wellington 50 def Dubbo Westside 36, Nyngan Tigers 26 def Narromine Jets 16, Dubbo CYMS 42 def Parkes 22.

ROUND 11:  

Arguably the most intense and outstanding match played in Group 11 since last season's epic grand final, the Fishies are forced to dig deep to claim a 14-4 win over Macquarie.

Wearing indigenous jerseys, CYMS led 8-4 and didn’t seal the victory until a flying Kieran Cubby-Shipp raced 40m to score the match-winner.

While Parkes’ win over Westside is marred by a late brawl, forcing the abandonment of the clash at Caltex Park.

SCORES: Dubbo CYMS 14 def Dubbo Macquarie 4, Parkes Spacmen 38 def Dubbo Westside 24, Nyngan Tigers 24 def Forbes 16, Narromine 40 defeated Wellington 34.

ROUND 12:

Alex Bonham scored 64 individual points courtesy of eight tries and booting 16 goals as CYMS rack up a second 100-point win in 2017, this time over Wellington, winning 104-6.

Group 11 confirms the 2017 grand final will be staged at Caltex Park, unless both Forbes and Parkes qualify for the decider. 

The decision is made at a general meeting in Narromine, with the only scenario resulting in the change of venue being if the competition’s two southern rivals meet on the final Sunday of the season.

SCORES: Dubbo CYMS 104 def Wellington Cowboys 6 Macquarie 62 def Dubbo Westside 20, Forbes 40 def Narromine Jets 24, Nyngan Tigers 36 def Parkes 22.

ROUND 13: 

Stewart Mills’ Nyngan Tigers roar into premiership contention after knocking off the previously undefeated Dubbo CYMS 14-0 at Larkin Oval – CYMS has already wrapped up the minor premiership.

Forbes looks to be hitting form, rallying from 20-14 down at half-time to score an important 30-28 win over Parkes.

SCORES: Macquarie Raiders 44 def Wellington Cowboys 14, Nyngan Tigers 14 def Dubbo CYMS 0, Forbes Magpies 30 def Parkes Spacemen 28, Narromine Jets 70 def Dubbo Westside 36.

ROUND 14: 

Nyngan laps Westside to head into the finals on the back of six straight wins, but coach Stewart Mills felt his team was disappointing compared to its form while beating Dubbo CYMS 14-0 last week.

While, in another shock result, Forbes dishes up CYMS with a second loss in a row, the Magpies claiming an 18-12 win. 

SCORES: Dubbo Macquarie 70 def Narromine 22, Forbes 18 def Dubbo CYMS 12, Nyngan Tigers 66 def Dubbo Westside 18, Parkes 52 def Wellington 20.

WEEK ONE: 

Macquarie is bundled out of the finals race at Jock Colley Field as Parkes defends its way to a 16-10 elimination semi-final win.

While Nyngan books a shot at CYMS with a resounding victory over a disappointing Forbes, but Magpies coaching co-ordinator Cameron Greenhalgh remains confident the defending premiers can still make an impact on 2017.

Both Forbes’ Todd Grace and Nyngan back-rower Norman Fuiava are sent off in the clash, ensuring nervy waits at the judiciary.

WEEK TWO: 

The Fishies bounce back to form with an 18-14 major semi-final win over Nyngan, booking the minor premiers a spot in the 2017 grand final.

And Parkes stuns defending premiers Forbes in a stirring a 28-18 minor semi-final victory at Spooner Oval, the Spacies storming back into the contest to bounce the Magpies out of the finals with two straight losses.

Forbes captain-coach Jake Grace goes on to tip the Tigers as the team to beat.

“They’ve just got a lot of big men. And unless you get on top of them, you’re never going to beat them. They’re strong right across the field.”

WEEK THREE: 

Nyngan storms out of the blocks in a 26-12 preliminary final victory over Parkes, ensuring the 2017 grand final is a blockbuster between CYMS and the Tigers.

It’s Nyngan’s first appearance in a Group 11 first grade decider, leading president Glen Neill to dub captain-coach Stewart Mills the “find of the century”.

GRAND FINAL:

On what was a record Group 11 grand final day in front of a bumper crowd of over 5000 people, CYMS claims its 14th premiership since the turn of the century courtesy of a 34-18 victory over Nyngan.

“It was all about Nyngan never having won one so my theme for this week was, what where they celebrating about? We’ve won 14 now and that’s something,” victorious coach Tim Ryan said post game.

CYMS’ point-scoring whiz Alex Bonham takes home the Bob Weir medal after scoring two tries, one an 80-metre pearler. 

The gate, $39,300, is a record for Group 11.

CYMS wins the league tag and reserve grade titles too, while Macquaire upsets Forbes to nab the Raiders the under 18s premiership.

Alex Bonham will be flat out having another season anywhere near what he produced in 2017.

The Dubbo CYMS pivot, pictured left, scored 12 tries in 15 games throughout the year and booted 89 goals – 33 more than his nearest rival, Nyngan’s Sam Simmons – to total 226 points for the season.

It’s the most of any player in 2017, in either Group 11 or Group 10.

He ran in 64 points in one game alone, the Fishies’ monumental round 12 thrashing of Wellington. Bonham scored eight tries in that haul. Eight.

He then guided CYMS to the minor premiership, a grand final berth and then a title, with two tries in the big dance as well.

He won the Bob Weir medal as the best player on ground during the decider, and claimed Group 11 and Western Rams representative jumpers in 2017.

There’s not a lot of flash about the CYMS halfback, not compared to some of his rivals, but any lack of flamboyance is certainly made up for by an abundance of ticker, unrivaled footy smarts and an uncanny ability to pop up at the right time.

That intercept in the grand final, with the scores at 18-12 and Nyngan on the attack, was as big a moment any as in the decider.

With the Tigers surging, CYMS needed a moment like that – and it was always going to come from Bonham.

The cheeky grin he gave the chasing Tigers, as you can see in the picture, is one of the moments caught that will stand the test of time and really sums up the Fishies 2017 campaign.

Remember the final two rounds of the regular season? CYMS lost games to Nyngan and Forbes.

Stick a fork in them then and there – they were done.

But just when you think you can rule out Tim Ryan’s men, they get back up off the canvas and find another gear.

It’s the sign of a champion team, led brilliantly by Bonham.