While the Group 11 playing roster is still reeling from the announcement that there won't be anything resembling the usual Group 11 action played this year, CYMS' premier-winning League Tag captain Nic Grose admits she isn't surprised.
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"It is a bit disappointing to not get to play, I kind of figured that would be the case once COVID-19 sort of hit, if anything I'm surprised things have been loosened as much as they have," Grose said.
Grose, who led the CYMS team to another premiership win last year and was eager to defend their title this year, isn't certain exactly what the future holds for the current title holders, but is confident the playing group will stick together.
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"It's not clear yet, we're going to meet up at the fields on Wednesday and maybe work on a few things, have a talk, we'll maybe train some ball skills if we can and do our general fitness," Grose said.
"For some of the girls, this is really the only sport that they have, this is what they do and what they love, so I think it's important to all touch base."
"We'll get together, have a bit of a run and get the fitness happening, maybe it won't be for a season, but I think it's still important to do some really early pre-season kind of stuff."
While there's no sign of officially sanctioned play outside of the junior ranks for this year, the challenge of staying ready during a year-long off-season is something Grose and the others are focused on.
"We definitely don't want to lose our skills, we're a pretty tight knit team, we're always on messenger together, there's the banter back and forth and I think we all know skill-wise, it's important to keep plodding away," Grose said.
"No team is ever perfect, we've got some things to work on, we've got some new young girls who we need to boost and show the ropes."
Grose says the thought of going 'back to back' is still foremost in the team's drive.
"We're not the only ones in this predicament, even though you want to give it a crack and go back to back, nothing says we're not going to get that opportunity," Grose said.
"Everyone's out, it's not just us."
According to Grose, Wednesday night's meeting will also be a chance for the players to discuss the idea of competing in the proposed 'super-competition' that will combine several leagues into one for the purpose of getting some game time in 2020.
"There's talk about something involving Group 10 and Woodbridge, I've spoken with Mick Fraser and he's still none the wiser, but I've asked to be kept in the loop," Grose said.
"If there's going to be a competition, that's great, but we'll have to see who's keen and who isn't, I'd like for the girls to get out there for health and fitness reasons and to keep us together and let us check in on each other."
"But travelling in the middle of winter to Lithgow or Oberon, that's not something I'm super keen on, but we'll see what happens."
The decision will be particularly important for Grose, who's unsure of just how much longer her playing career will last, but wants to pursue at least one more title defence before the time comes to hang up her boots.
"I'm not sure how many more years I've got left to be fair, I think my role looking forward will be as more of a mentor to the girls, but I'm always going to be involved," Grose said.
"But I definitely want to get one more season in at least."