The Cyclones, featuring a number of Dubbo young guns, suffered a three-run loss to the ACT in Sunday’s opening game of the tournament at Toowoomba.

But with a new-look team starting to gel and matches being played throughout the week there’s plenty of times to make amends.

“We’ve got some boys who haven’t played at this level before and other guys who have been doing it for multiple years so there was a few nerves and some excitement,” Dubbo’s Tom Atlee, a Cyclones 21s player, said.

“We look alright and we had a look at some of the other teams and I think everyone is about even.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a standout side or one lagging behind the pack.”

Atlee is one of a host of Dubbo players who will be in actin at Toowoomba in the coming weeks.

The open-age and under-21s is being contested currently while the junior age championships follow that.

In the 21s, Atlee is joined by fellow Dubbo players Thomas Nelson, Tom Barber, Mitch Russo and Adlai Shipp while Dubbo duo Don Skinner and Greg King coach the side.

“It’s good having the couple of Dubbo boys there and some new players we’ve met. It’s a good experience,” Atlee said of the national titles.

The fact there are a number of new faces and the squad found it hard to train given the geographical size of the area it represents, Atlee and his teammates weren’t reading into Sunday afternoon’s loss too much.

The Cyclones are expected to figure in the final stages in a number of age groups and with the likes of Atlee and Nelson having played a high level in the outdoor game, there’s plenty of confidence in the 21s squad.

The Cyclones 21s took on South Australia Red overnight while the side plays just one game on Monday, taking on South Australia Black.

The under-21s competition runs through until Saturday’s grand final.

The NSW Open side features Dubbo junior Wade Burrowes.