Most of the talk surrounding Parkes in the off-season was about the return of Sam Dwyer but it's the star's younger brother that turned heads last Sunday.
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Joey Dwyer was electric for the Spacemen during a remarkable second-half comeback against Wellington, helping orchestrate the red, white and blues' memorable 25-24 win.
He popped up everywhere, scoring one try, laying on two others with clever little grubber kicks for Brandon Tago and Chad Porter while also making a line break.
The 21-year-old's speed and evasiveness proved a real highlight and the young five-eighth is hoping he can replicate that sort of form again on Sunday.
The Spacies host Nyngan at Pioneer Oval in an early-season, top-of-the-table clash.
A lot of pundits had the Tigers, defending premiers Forbes, Dubbo CYMS and Wellington as the teams to beat this season but Dwyer says a victory on Sunday will "fire a warning shot" to their Group 11 rivals.
It's great knowing Tages is outside me, he's kind of a hit-man for me.
- Joey Dwyer on the trimed-down Brandon Tago at Parkes.
"It'll certainly set up our season," the young pivot said.
"The crowd against Wello last week was amazing. I've not seen a crowd, bar the June long weekend game, that big so it was good to get that win.
"Down 24-6 we had to regroup and we did that and rattled home late.
"Nyngan will be tough though, especially after they beat Forbes so they're shaping up well."
Dwyer said his side's fitness level is far superior compared to that of previous Parkes sides and that'll hold the 2019 Spacemen in good stead against Nyngan on Sunday.
New coach Brent Wood has been behind the club's spike in fitness, Dwyer quick to point out the ex-Parkes player had been "hammering us at training".
And one of the big beneficiaries of that fitness focus has been backrower Brandon Tago.
Dwyer added the hulking forward has been a revelation since returning to the club and having his presence in the defensive line next to the young five-eighth was providing one of Parkes' best attacking weapons with a new-found confidence.
"It's great knowing Tages is outside me, he's kind of a hit-man for me," Dwyer said.
"It's reassuring, and Chad (Porter) has been great too. We work well off each other and it's really creating a lot of confidence."
Nyngan travels to Parkes following last week's 80-32 win over Westside in round two, which followed a 20-10 win over premiers Forbes.
Parkes hosts Nyngan at Pioneer Oval from 11am, starting with the champion Spacecats up against the Tigers girls in the league tag.
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Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
