GREEN TO THE BONE: Orange CYMS junior Kiel Vardanega has stepped up in the absence of some of CYMS’ premiership winning props to lay a solid foundation for the green and golds so far in 2012. Photo: NICK McGRATH
KIEL Vardanega is the sort of no-nonsense prop every Group 10 coach loves.
Truck it up and tackle hard.
It’s pretty simple.
But it hasn’t always been that way.
The 25-year-old has spent much of the last few years in Orange CYMS’ first division outfit, stuck behind the likes of Group 10 players Ben McKenna and Terawhiti Cooper as well as promising young bull Bryce Jones because of the “silly little things” that had crept into his game.
“Baz has always been a great clubman,” captain-coach Mick Sullivan said ahead of CYMS’ clash with Cowra tomorrow at Wade Park.
“Unfortunately he has had a few little errors in his game in the past which has kept him in reserve grade.”
However, things have now changed.
Call it maturity.
Maybe it’s more responsibility.
Whatever it is, Vardanega has grabbed his shot with both hands to play a pivotal role in taking the two-time defending premiers forward in 2012.
“He has gotten rid of those [errors] now and when he did he was always going to be a regular first grader. He is a whole hearted player,” Sullivan said.
After debuting with CYMS in their first year back in the Group 10 top grade in 2005, the man himself is rapt to be back.
“I just want to stay in first grade obviously and do the little things,” Vardanega said.
“There’s so much skill in the team you just have to do your little thing, and my little thing is just to go forward and get the roll forward for the boys.”
A CYMS junior, Vardanega worked hard during the off-season on both his ball handing and his temper in order to cement a place in CYMS’ top grade.
“Just those things. You can play good and then the silly stuff undoes it all,” he said.
“Just the silly niggle. It’s now more controlled aggression. I don’t want to be too hot-headed.”
CYMS tackle the Cowra Magpies tomorrow at Wade Park.
The green and golds lost their last game 32-16 against Bathurst Panthers while Cowra surprised Lithgow 26-22.
Both teams are in a share of third with Lithgow on the 2012 ladder.
Vardanega said Cowra would be high on confidence.
“If we don’t perform on Sunday, Cowra, with Warren Williams, they’re the sort of team that can run silly. We’ve got points in us but we need to start well,” he said.
Kick-off is at 1.45pm.