UNASSUMING, uncompromising and dedicated. All three are qualities you look for in a leader.
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Orange CYMS coach and former NRL half Mick Sullivan sees all three in two-time premiership winning lock Ben Gosper.
So much so, he has made the 25-year-old skipper.
“I think he has got a really level head and his work rate out there is second to none. He and Patty Gibson, there’s no other guys who do more on the footy field,” Sullivan said ahead of CYMS clash with the Mudgee Dragons at Wade Park tomorrow.
“We wanted to put the onus on Ben this year and he has really stepped up.”
Gosper, however, played down his role in the side.
“It’s always good to lead the boys out. Sully sort of takes over when we’re out there but I’m enjoying leading the boys out this year,” Gosper said.
But don’t be fooled.
Gosper is exactly the type of player the club has based its run of two straight Group 10 premier league premierships on; CYMS junior, tough, hard working.
It’s been good enough to see CYMS in first after 10 rounds of 2012 too.
Sullivan said his side was “taught a lesson” by Mudgee in a 30-20 loss back in round two and Gosper believes the green and golds will come out hard against a Dragons outfit minus four suspended stars following a drama-charged clash with Lithgow last weekend.
“We’re going into the game as hard as we can,” Gosper said.
“We’re not taking anyone lightly. Mudgee have a lot of depth in their club so we’ll be going in to the game expecting it to be as tough as ever.”
CYMS put together one of its better efforts against Orange Hawks last weekend, coming back from 14-4 down to beat the two blues 28-22.
Gosper said the side was in good spirits after the win, but admitted there was plenty CYMS can improve on.
And they must to beat Mudgee.
“I suppose we can probably work on our defence, especially around the ruck. We’ve been leaking a few points there lately so if we can tighten up that area of our game that’ll be good,” he said.
Sullivan, too, was wary of a wounded Mudgee.
“I think they’ve probably got a point to prove,” Sullivan said.
“Yum Yum (Kyle Cochrane) will be a big loss for them as will Robbo (Jared Robinson) but their depth will kick in.
“They gave us a bit of lesson up there in Mudgee earlier in the year so hopefully we can return the favour at Wade Park.”
CYMS will unleash new recruit Larsen Marabe on the Dragons tomorrow, with the Papua New Guinea international set to provide the defending premiers with plenty of punch off the interchange bench.
Kick-off is at 1.45pm at Wade Park.
ORANGE CYMS: 1 Tim Bassmann, 2 Epa Navale, 3 Cody Robbins, 4 Dom Maley, 5 Scott Piper, 6 Claude Gordon, 7 Mick Sullivan, 8 Terawhiti Cooper, 9 Sam Hill, 10 Kyle Vardanega, 11 Josh Nixon, 12 Riley Law, 13 Ben Gosper (c); Bench: 14 Brett Sargent, 15 Larsen Marabe.