How do you replace the irreplaceable? Dom Maley’s asking for a friend.
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Maley officially assumed the Orange CYMS head coach role on Saturday after the green and golds fare-welled five-time Group 10 premiership winner Mick Sullivan at Waratah Sports Club.
Maley, a CYMS junior, was announced as the man set to fill Sullivan’s shoes at the end of September and while he’s looking forward to the challenge he’s acutely aware that’s exactly what it’ll be – a challenge, and a mighty one at that.
“It’s certainly going to be a tough act to follow and I’ve said it to a few people that have asked, I’m essentially replacing the irreplaceable,” the 32-year-old said.
“Someone has to do it though and the club’s been around for a long time and will be long after Sully’s gone. There’s a lot of good things in place and I’m keen to build on that.”
CYMS finished fourth in 2018, an underachievement if you ask Maley, and as such prepare for the next Group 10 season with a point to prove.
Aside from Sullivan, the bulk of CYMS’ squad will return in 2019 although a horrible dislocated knee suffered at Cowra in July could keep gun fullback Tom Satterthwaite out for all of next season too.
The young Group 10 and Western representative has had a litany of leg injuries in the past and the club will prefer to tread cautiously with Satterthwaite instead of rushing him back.
Ben McAlpine has re-linked with CYMS while ex-NRL gun Chris Grevsmuhl is a chance of returning to the Orange club in 2019.
CYMS is in discussions now with a number of potential recruits and Maley is confident the 2019 green and golds will again contend.
“Mick’s created a culture where the talk is about success in regards to premierships. Even without adding anyone the core group we have is strong enough to be a success next year,” Maley added.
CYMS’ new first grade coach is a physical education teacher and as such has coached a number of school sides during his time at James Sheahan Catholic High School.
Maley’s also coached the CYMS reserve grade side, and mentored the club to the title in 2015.
The experience he’ll draw on most, though, naturally, will be from his time under the tutelage of Sullivan, who spent nine years in charge of CYMS’ top grade outfit.
I’m not going to come in and turn the world upside down.
- Incoming Orange CYMS coach Dom Maley
Maley said Sullivan’s ‘play what’s in front of you’ philosophy will continue next winter, although he’ll add an element of structure for the side to fall back on when fatigue sets in at the back-end of games.
“But I’m not going to come in and turn the world upside down,” Maley said, adding taking on the head coach’s job isn’t something he’s aspired to do coming through the ranks.
“It’s probably an easy time for some people to walk away, Sully not being here now and a new sponsor as well, but I thought now’s a good opportunity to put my hand up and get involved when the club needs it the most.
“The bulk of my senior playing career has been under Mick and it’s the same for most of the club. He’s given us a great starting point to work from.”
CYMS’ annual general meeting is at the Hotel Canobolas from 6.30pm on Monday night. Formal training will begin in January.
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