ORIGINALLY, Dom Maley was supposed to be simply “helping out” Orange CYMS with a bit of lower grade coaching in 2016.
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A fortnight ago, he dived over under the posts to score one of the most important tries in the green and golds’ rich history.
VIDEO: See what Nick McGrath and Matt Findlay have to say ahead of the Group 10 grand finals:
Maley was on the end of a try of the year contender beginning with the right boot of Ben McAlpine on CYMS’ own 10 metre line, his cross field kick finding Jerome Harrison before the nuggetty three-quarter linked with Maley, who raced the rest of Wade Park to punctuate a 22-20 major semi-final victory.
“I think I was pretty lucky just to be there in support,” Maley said.
“The two guys before me, they did all the hard work and I got the glory … which was nice.”
Maley has played a sporadic part in CYMS success since 2010.
Having won an under-18s title with the green and golds in 2002, he linked with his junior club to win the premiership in 2011 while also being part of CYMS’ 2012 grand final team that lost to Lithgow.
That, though, was the last Maley played with the green and golds in first grade.
Missing the camaraderie, Maley’s return was only a gradual one, culminating in Sunday’s grand final appearance.
“You do miss the relationships and it’s a fun club to be involved with so I thought I’d contribute a bit with coaching. That was the original plan,” he said.
“I played a couple of games of reggies ... and then there was a couple of injuries and initially it was only a short-term thing to do a few favours for Sully. It’s turned into a bit more of a permanent fix. I’m enjoying it though.”