While the cancellation of Group 11's League Tag season has left many players and staff adrift, CYMS star and coach Kaityn Mason is finding plenty to keep her busy in 2020.
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Mason has put her hand up to help out with the training of the Macquarie Raidettes following a whirlwind start to the year that saw the side step over to Group 10 in order to get some playing time.
Helping her feel at home is the inclusion of a few faces from CYMS, as well as others from across the Group 11 playing group who will take on the Bathurst Panthers in round 3 of the Under 18s competition.
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"It's a really strong squad and we've got people from all over Group 11, we've got two from Nyngan, and a few from CYMS, Wellington and Narromine that signed up," Mason said.
"We've been training for three weeks, our first game in round one really we just had to get a feel for it and get everybody to gel as a team."
"We've really nailed down what we need to work on now and we're pretty excited."
Mason says the new competition is providing a very 'different feel' for a roster of girls who are used to playing in a different age range.
"It's good for them to get experience under the belt playing girls their own age, we don't have the 18s, whereas it's very well established in Group 10," Mason said.
After a rocky start to the unexpected season where the side was beaten 44 - 4 by the Orange Hawks, Mason says things are starting to come together following a 42 - 4 victory over St. Pats.
"We've coped pretty well, especially not having a coach, I was asked to step in and help out with training, it's definitely a challenge for all of us, but they've adapted very well and that showed in our last game, they all came together with those different combinations from each club," Mason said.
"I've coached against a few of these girls in the junior competition before, but it's a real step up for me to help them train and for them it's pretty different too."
"My training style can be a little bit full on at times, but they've all handled it really well."
Defence will be at the forefront of what the girls are working on, with the uncertainty of the Group 10 roster making a strong bulwark early on essential.
"Our attack will come off the back of that, the first ten minutes of our first two games have been vital, they're finding their feet in the game, but once they get into that grind, they'll know who the main threats are and how to shut them down," Mason said.
"Our last game, the girls really came out of the blocks strong at the start and kept that effort up all game."
The Raidettes head to Bathurst on Sunday, with a 2.30pm kick-off for their match against the Panthers.