It might be a new season but Brent Wood is expecting more of the same from Dubbo CYMS on Saturday.
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The Wood-coached Parkes Spacemen make the trip to Dubbo on Saturday to start the 2021 Group 11 season at No. 1 Oval.
"CYMS will be a decent challenge straight off the bat," Wood said.
"But we've been working really hard at training so our aim will be to bring the energy and intensity for the full 80 minutes.
"In the past we've matched it with them for big patches of the game then fallen away, so this Saturday I just want the boys to dig in, and if we can do that we can get the win."
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Making that task a little more difficult is the number of injuries in the squad.
In a huge blow for the Spacies, fullback Sam Dwyer and halfback Chad Porter have both been ruled out of the match.
"That has thrown a spanner in the works," Wood admitted.
"But we've got Wes Middleton who can come into the halves, while Jack Creith will push back to cover Sammy (Dwyer) at fullback.
"Connor Farrer will be important for us at dummy half; he's working on a few things at the moment, but he has a lot of energy and is very strong for his size so we'll be looking for him to get our sets off to good starts."
Farrer at hooker is a key new arrival while Creith shapes as an important addition the Spacemen this season after he left Parkes following his junior career in the past before spending time in the Canberra Raiders' lower grades and in the Queensland Cup.
"He had been playing at five-eighth for us but he can play anywhere for us," Wood said of Creith.
"It's good to have him back."
Kick-off is 4.30pm on Saturday.
Kristy Williams
Journalist with a strong interest in sport, agriculture and regional news.
Journalist with a strong interest in sport, agriculture and regional 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.
