A lot has changed in seven seasons.

Sensing a resurgence, Dwyer has joined forces with Orange Hawks for the 2017 Group 10 season and will be as far away from the wing as you can imagine.

Now a crafty play-maker, the Manildra Rhinos junior will likely play hooker for Willie Heta’s Hawks come round one of the new season when the two blues travel to Oberon to take on the Tigers.

“I’ve beefed up a bit since (playing with CYMS in 2010) and I’m in the middle now and hopefully I can use my strengths, which is my defence,” Dwyer said.

“I think we’ll go well. The boys have been training really hard.”

Dwyer returns to Group 10 with a vastly more experienced playing resume than he left with.

The gun hooker has been learning his craft in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast, playing his rugby league firstly with the East Tigers under 20s and then with the Sunshine Coast Falcons, a system, given they’re a feeder club, that mirrors NRL giants the Melbourne Storm.

Injury has put a dampener on his form in the last two winters, but now fit and keen to fire, Dwyer is banking on Hawks surprising a few teams in 2017.

"I heard Hawks were rebuilding and I was keen to be part of that,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the year with these guys, I think it’s going to be good and hopefully the experience I’ve got playing at that level can help bring a few of the boys along.”

Dwyer was keen to praise new mentor Willie Heta, who travelled to Young two weeks ago to help run the water for the club’s league tag side.

“I don’t think you’d see that from too many captain-coaches in the bush, he’s going the extra mile,” Dwyer said.

“(He’s) knowledgeable about the game. He uses me as a bit of a sounding board having been in some pretty good systems up in Queensland.

“He’s a very skillful footballer and I think the boys will learn a lot from him this season.”

The club is enjoying a solid pre-season, Dwyer revealing the club has “at least 60 to training each run”, with a big emphasis on fitness ahead of a full year of first grade for a number of young players.

Those young players though – Nathan Potts, Jack Aumuller and another recruit, Ethan McKellar – have all jumped out as stand-outs throughout pre-season, for Dwyer.

“Jedd Kennedy is obviously another and from all reports he’s lightning … I think we’ll go well,” he added.

“Hope we have areal successful season, whether we win or not it’s about getting that vibe back in the place and getting everyone’s family around the club.”