FORMER NRL star Mick Sullivan makes his long awaited comeback tomorrow, in Orange CYMS’ Group 10 premier league clash with Mudgee Dragons.
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Sullivan missed the opening seven rounds of the season following off-season knee surgery, and made a stellar comeback last week against Cowra Magpies in reserve grade.
After lighting up Wade Park for 40 minutes, Sullivan will once again don the green and golds’ top grade halfback jersey when his team takes to Glen Willow Sporting Complex tomorrow afternoon.
“I’m expecting Mudgee to run their big boys down my side and target me a bit,” CYMS’ captain-coach said.
“But there’s no better way to test it (injury) than against the best side in the competition. It pulled up pretty well after last week, so I’ll give it a crack.”
Sullivan makes a welcome return to a severely under strength CYMS unit.
The green and golds are missing six regular first graders in Sunday’s clash, including Ben McAlpine after the star centre succumbed to a groin injury.
McAlpine will also miss Western Division’s clash with Greater Northern on Saturday.
After suffering its first loss of the season last weekend to Cowra, Sullivan said CYMS are looking to bounce back against the undefeated, table-topping Dragons.
“We never like losing one game, let alone a couple in a row,” he said.
“We don’t want to make losing a habit, and with me and Wok (five-eighth Warick Colley) back, hopefully we can bring a bit more consistency. That’s what we’ve been missing, and our defence hasn’t been up to scratch.”
Mudgee captain-coach Jack Afamasaga said CYMS will be looking to prove a point after last week’s loss, but added Sullivan’s return would not distract his team from the big picture.
“Not worried at all,” the Mudgee mentor said with a slight chuckle.
“What I’ve told the boys all along, ‘don’t focus on the opposition, focus on our performance.”
CYMS and Mudgee kick-off at 2.30pm, at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Sporting Complex.
ORANGE CYMS: 1 Tim Bassmann, 2 Semesi Katoa, 3 Jarrod Robbins, 4 Dan Stuart, 5 Wayne Collett, 6 Warick Colley, 7 Mick Sullivan, 8 Zac Bohan, 9 Sam Hill, 10 Brent Colley, 11 Pat Galea, 12 Riley Law, 13 Anthony Redfern, 14 Tom Stonestreet.