Dubbo CYMS chairman Kevin Walkom has a saying for nearly everything so it’s no surprise he barely bats and eyelid when discussing the loss of three Group 11 premiership winners for season 2018.
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Flying fullback Kieran Cubby-Shipp, workhorse front-rower Jarryn Powyer and stalwart Matt Naden have all departed for fresh pastures, taking with them a huge amount of talent and experience.
“But as the saying goes, the King dies and there’s a new one tomorrow,” Walkom said.
Walkom is well aware his club has lost three of its best players but there’s not the slightest sense of concern.
A club likes CYMS has lost many big names before but has more often that not been a premiership contender the following year.
“It create opportunities for other players to get a chance and display their skills,” Walkom said.
“We’re confident in the depth at our club and the young blokes coming through.”
Naden has made the big move crosstown to link up with Claude Gordon as co-coach of Westside while both Cubby-Shipp and Powyer are departing Dubbo.
Jarryn Powyer has gone to Wollongong, where he is every chance to link up with fellow former Fishies Colby and Tony Pellow, while Cubby-Shipp will be plying his trade in Newcastle.
They’ve been educated with good discipline ... so that will stand them in good stead.
- Kevin Walkom
“That’s just progress and I don’t want to hold them back,” Walkom said.
“They’ve got to go out and experience life and maybe develop their skills more.
“They’ve been educated with good discipline and that’s a quality they’ve developed (at CYMS) so that will stand them in good stead.”
While having no issue with players moving on and furthering their development, both on the field and effort, Walkom stated the departures did create “some crevices to fill”.
Fishies coach Tim Ryan agreed with his fifth year at the helm potentially being the one with the most news faces in first grade.
“Looking at it now it will make all my old ideas new again,” Ryan said.
“We’ll have quite a different group.”
CYMS have already begun to plug the gaps with former Nyngan captain-coach Byron Warren to play in green and white in 2018 after making the move to Dubbo.
Naden’s departure came as a surprise to many given how many years he had given to CYMS but both Walkom and Ryan said there were no hard feelings at all.
“I wish ‘Nadeo’ all the best, he’s a big loss,” Ryan said.
“I’ve loved working with him and being part of his career for the last five years. He’ll be missed, for sure.”
Walkom echoed that sentiment, adding it was “a bit of a coup” for Westside and one which definitely help them become more competitive.
In terms of CYMS and season 2018, Ryan said “it was time to start looking forward” after the joy of taking out the premiership this year.
Ryan added the Fishies won’t begin in earnest until late January.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
