When Justin Toomey-White runs out with the Wellington Cowboys on Sunday it will mark his first Group 11 match since the 2018 preliminary final.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
To put that into some perspective, the 2018 grand final was played out between Forbes and Dubbo CYMS and in that match Charlie Staines and Matt Burton went head-to-head.
In the time since, the pair have gone on to establish themselves as NRL players at Penrith with Burton even being spoken about as a potential Origin bolter this year.
But after overcoming a battle with bowel cancer, two-time Group 11 player of the year Toomey-White returned to the Cowboys in a purely coaching role but still led the side to the drought-breaking 2019 premiership win.
READ ALSO:
COVID then ruined any chance to play in 2020 so there's few in the competition as keen to step out in round one as the Cowboys captain-coach.
The last Group 11 match Toomey-White played, the 2018 preliminary final, was against Forbes and that's who the Cowboys start their 2021 season against on Sunday.
"I'm really excited," he said.
"It's going to be a great feeling. I know we've had trials and Tribal League but to officially be back in Group 11 footy, it's been a long two years, but I'm really looking forward to leading the boys out.
"That feeling will go away in the first minute though, then we've got to focus on what's happening."
The last few years have had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for Toomey-White.
His cancer diagnosis rocked his entire community while he and his wife Kate have also welcomed two children into the world, the most recent of those only in the past week.
The 2019 grand final win was also a hugely emotional one and his club still holds the silverware now.
While the playing group at Wellington has changed a huge amount since that grand final win, the determination to defend that crown burns bright.
It's a different team but we've got that one goal.
- Justin Toomey-White
Despite the departure of a number of big-name players - namely Travis Waddell, Dave Dryden and Aidan Ryan - seven of the players who start at Forbes on Sunday started in the 2019 decider.
Three players on the beaten CYMS side that day - Corey Cox, Harry Kempston and Wade Kavanagh - will all make their Cowboys debuts on Sunday after making the switch during the off-season.
Kavanagh is a major addition to the side after his initial move to Macquarie late last year failed to eventuate.
He has a huge amount of winning experience, as does Cox, and they'll immediately become two players Toomey-White looks to this season.
"All the boys who come to the club have been ripping in," Toomey-White said.
"We've got different partnerships and different goals so it's about building a squad together.
"It's a different team but we've got that one goal and it will take every training session and every game to work towards that."
Kick-off at Forbes is 2.30pm on Sunday.
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
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.
