WELCOME BACK WOK: Warick Colley made his return from a broken ankle with CYMS' first division side last Saturday. He is hoping to make the step up to premier league in the finals.
YOU won’t find a more over-qualified reserve grade halfback in the bush.
So don’t be shocked to see former NSW Country pivot Warick Colley force his way back into Orange CYMS’ top grade side just in time to help the green and golds defy the odds and win three-straight Group 10 premier league titles.
Colley made his long-awaited comeback from a horror broken ankle in CYMS’ first division line-up last Saturday.
One of the classiest maestros in Country NSW, Colley had only planned on making a comeback off the bench, however, was forced to start after CYMS’ regular lower grade halfback couldn’t make last Saturday’s game.
Not that CYMS are complaining.
He seamlessly guided the green and golds to a 28-16 win over a tough Bathurst St Pat’s in atrocious conditions, securing the side’s place in the 2012 Group 10 first division finals with a fifth-place finish.
But the comeback was part of a bigger picture.
Initially fearing the worst when his left ankle gave way under the weight of an opponent in CYMS’ first trial game against Cowra in April, Colley says he now wants back in on the club’s tilt at another premiership defence.
“Obviously that’s why I tried to make a comeback,” the 2009 Group 10 Player of the Year said.
“I’m happy to help reserve grade out but you play to be part of the big games at the end of the season.
“I’ve left it up to (player-coach) Mick (Sullivan) though.”
Sullivan, however, said the ball was in Colley’s court.
“I hope he can play,” Sullivan said.
“We’re just checking to see how he pulls up. It’s a pretty major injury to be coming back from but as you said, he is too classy to be playing in reserve grade. It’s just a matter of getting a bit of confidence back.
“We haven’t made a decision on him this week yet but we definitely haven’t ruled him out of first grade.”
At his best, Colley is without doubt one of the leading halves in CRL.
But CYMS already have one of the more accomplished halves pairings in the competition with Sullivan, a lock in the No.7 jersey, and Claude Gordon forcing his way into the Group 10 representative ranks at five-eighth in 2012.
Colley’s availability will leave Sullivan with a few sleepless nights sorting out just who his best scrum-base partner is.
Colley had his left ankle strapped heavily last Saturday, but that was only as a precaution.
“I’ve pulled up pretty good,” he said.
“The whole body is sore, which is to be expected.
“I sort of gave up about a month or five weeks ago, but I thought if I was to give it a go then it’d have to be in the final round.
“I had a full week of training, hard training and it was still a little bit sore but I got through it alright.”
CYMS host Bathurst St Pat’s in Sunday’s premier league qualifying semi-final for the right to tackle Lithgow in Group 10’s major semi-final a week later.
The winner of the major semi-final will host the Group 10 grand final.