There was time during Alex Ronayne's career at Dubbo CYMS where he and his teammates arrived at grounds around the region knowing they were about to win and win comfortably.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In past years there's was almost always one club which was seriously struggling for numbers and quality, with CYMS alone passing triple figures in a match twice in the past five years.
But Ronayne, now the captain-coach at the Macquarie Raiders, feels that won't be the case this season.
READ ALSO:
He's one of many expecting this to be one of the strongest and most competitive seasons in some time, and it all starts this weekend when the Raiders travel to Narromine for round one.
"I think it's going to be the best comp we've had a in a long time," the Western Rams back-rower said.
"Obviously I've come from CYMS where you used to win fairly easily but it's going to be a lot different now.
"It's going to be good and I'm looking forward to playing some good footy week in, week out instead of going somewhere and knowing you might win by 80 points."
The Raiders have enjoyed a fruitful off-season, with a host of marquee arrivals set to line up at Cale Oval on Sunday.
The match is a long-time coming with Ronayne one of a number of new players who was recruited ahead of the 2020 season that was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plenty more players - headlined by the likes of Jack Kavanagh, Oliver Gordon, Nick Harvey, and Pone Tongia - have arrived in the lead-up to 2021 and that has many footy fans around the region labelling the Raiders the side to beat this year.
Ronayne isn't getting carried away though and is keeping things simple in the lead-up to round one.
"All I want from my boys is them being there and wanting to win," he said.
"Turn up for each other and show each other love. That's all I'm about, playing for each other and getting around each other."
All of the Raiders' big names are available for Sunday's match and the forward pack, as expected, looks one of the best seen in Group 11.
Boom recruits Kavanagh and Gordon will start in the front-row while Ronayne, former CYMS teammate Jordan Reynolds, and Clayton Couley form the back-row.
There will be no let-up for the Jets on Sunday when the Raiders change it up, with Nick Harvey and Lopeti Mafi both coming off the bench.
Last season's under 18s captain, Maclay Ryan, has also been named on the bench after impressing Ronayne in pre-season.
Sam Coe, one of the few Raiders remaining from 2019, will start at fullback while Matt Naden and Matt Toole are in the halves.
The action on Sunday starts at 11am with league tag, and juniors, reserve grade, and first grade will follow.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
HAVE YOUR SAY:
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.
