Jarryn Powyer has had a good look at the vast array of talent at disposal and he's now ready to start choosing his best 17 for Dubbo CYMS.
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The hard part of that is the captain-coach is not necessarily certain what the best 17 is yet.
CYMS is in action again on Saturday, travelling to Sydney to take on the Western Suburbs Magpies in the semi-finals of the NSW Challenge Cup.
"I said to the boys this week that moving forward we'll be looking at the top 17 and giving them more minutes," Powyer said.
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"But to be honest, it (the previous two games) has made it a lot harder. I threw some boys in who had trained really well just to give them a go and they really stood up so it hasn't made things easier at all.
"For the club though it's unreal."
Injury and other commitments have affected Powyer's selections somewhat, with the captain-coach himself missing Saturday's game alongside Alex Bonham, Luke Jenkins, and Lee Price.
Jyie Chapman and Matt Toole return while John Ciappara and Wade Kavanagh will make their first appearances from the bench after missing the two previous cup wins due to Western Rams under 23s commitments.
They, like everyone else, will be eager to impress but Powyer is keen to see a more composed performance against the Magpies.
"We've been a bit too rushed and I think that just comes with people vying for positions and trying to put their best foot forward," he said.
"We haven't really built, we've been going in like a bull at a gate and made some mistakes and it was a bit messy. We gave away a few penalties rushing up too fast, too.
"We need to go back to basics instead of trying to rush up and puts shots on. Not that I don't admire that.
"You look at them (Glebe) last week and they might not have been much quality but they were bloody big and the boys didn't take a step backwards."
The Wolves towered over CYMS last weekend and Powyer admits the lack of size is the one worry within his size.
With Nick Harvey departing for Mudgee and Lincoln Kavanagh no certainty to play in 2019 given he will suspended for the opening 10 weeks of the competition, the Fishies are short of front-rowers.
"It's definitely frustrating because we don't have those big bodies," Powyer said.
"Everyone is mobile and athletic and the game suits faster sides but you still need those one or two."
The Fishies know little about the Magpies, a side which failed to make the Ron Massey Cup finals last season, but they too are expected to feature a hulking forward pack.
The side has a number of news faces in 2019, including former New Zealand Warriors player, Omar Slaimankhel.
The Magpies defeated Cabramatta 30-18.
CYMS is the only Country Rugby League (CRL) side left, with the other semi-final seeing the Guildford Owls tackle the Wyong Roos.
A repeat of last year's grand final is a possibility, with the Fishies and Owls both still alive.
CYMS roared to a 62-18 victory in last year's Challenge Cup decider.
Kick-off in Saturday's match at Marrickville's Henson Park is at 3pm.
- CYMS: 1 Brad Pickering, 2 Viliame Turuva, 3 Jyie Chapman, 4 Corey Cox, 5 Nick Karydis, 6 Matt Toole, 7 Tom Yeo, 8 Jayden Merritt, 9 Hamish Astill, 10 Ben Marlin, 11 Alex Ronayne, 12 Billy Sing, 13 Jordan Reynolds, 14 Luke Wrigley, 15 Cameron Dennis, 16 Nacewa Nalagi, 17 John Ciappara, 18 Wade Kavanagh
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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.
