Billy Sing admits he doesn’t know a whole lot about rugby union but there’s no denying the fact he knows a lot about success.
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Sing has made a habit of making grand finals and winning titles with Dubbo CYMS in the Group 11 rugby league competition but this season he will also be wearing the blue of the Dubbo Kangaroos in the Blowes Clothing Cup.
Sing, who works with new Kangaroos coach Dean Matthews, joked the mentor had worn him down during the off-season having asked him over and over but added he was ready to take on the rugby challenge.
“From what I’ve gathered in pre-season everyone is keen on a pretty successful year,” he said.
“There’s blokes around like Shaun McHugh and I don’t know too much about the central west rugby scene but they’re really switched on.
“It’s a proud club and I’m pretty keen to be a part of it.”
Sing, who will continue to play league as well as union this season, will run out at Forbes’ Grinsted Oval this weekend as part of a new-look Roos lineup.
Filisione Pauta, so long the cornerstone of the Roos’ success, has switched to the Geurie Goats in the Graincorp Cup competition with versatile back Moa Kavaefiafi joining him.
Ted Bates, a standout last winter, looks set to miss the season having injured his knee while playing touch football recently while a number of new faces are now part of the side, coached by Matthews, Mark Stanford and Rob Bond.
“Dean and Mark make it fun but at the end of the day they’ve got a job to do,” Sing said.
The centres are the most changed, with Sing at inside centre while fellow rugby league recruit Viliame Turuva will play at outside centre.
Young gun Luke Ryan has been named at fullback while James Mata is at scrumhalf and Brad Pugh reverts to flyhalf having played in a number of positions last season under Dan Armitage.
McHugh and Simon Hegarty provide plenty of experience in the forwards with fellow regular Ned Williams will again be starting at hooker.
Those older heads will be on hand to help the likes of Sing get used to life in the central west’s premier rugby competition.
“I’ve not really played since school,” Sing said of his experience in union.
“But I’ve just been trying to learn as I go and it’s a bit of fun for me as well, something different.
“It’s a bit of a challenge.”
Sing confessed he knows little of the Platypi or any sides in the competition but after the Forbes team made last season’s decider he knows he’s in for a test straight away.
“I’ve been told some names but I’m just going to go out and treat every player like a danger,” he said.
The Roos and Platypi kick off at Forbes at 3.15pm.
DUBBO KANGAROOS: 1 Jock Rodgers, 2 Ned Williams, 3 John Mafiti, 4 Monty Hicks, 5 Simon Hegarty, 6 Shaun McHugh ©, 7 Reuben Williams, 8 Tom Sheridan, 9 James Mata, 10 Brad Pugh, 11 Hamish Gordon, 12 Billy Sing, 13 Viliame Turuva, 14 Anthony Golding, 15 Luke Ryan