This weekend will be something of a blast from the past for Alex Ronayne.
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On Saturday he will represent Group 11 for the first time since he played in the under 16s, before he lines up at fullback on Sunday after more than five years in the forwards.
The Dubbo CYMS man will play in the back-row as normal for Group 11 against Group 10 on Saturday but a number of injuries and changes within the Fishies side means he reverts to fullback for Sunday's derby meeting with Westside.
The hard-hitting Ronayne hasn't represented Group 11 in more than a decade but he's eager to do his bit to help the Justin Toomey-White coached side regain the western crown they lost last year.
"I haven't played rep for a while but I'm stoked to be there, especially with some boys we normally play against," he said.
Ronayne will form part of a forward pack which may not be the biggest but it's mobility and engine will be difficult for Group 10 to match.
The back-row also features Nyngan's Loma Atuau and Wellington's former NRL star Travis Waddell, while Ronayne's fellow Fishie Wade Kavanagh, Parkes' Jay Slavin, and Cowboys firebrand James Stanley will ensure there's plenty of punch off the bench.
But the biggest key in the game will be the performance of halfback Chad Porter, who's been in stellar form for Parkes and will lead Group 11 around the park.
"I think I'm one of the oldest but it's a good little team," 27-year-old Ronayne said.
"There's a good backline and forwards and both halves are good, too. Chad goes really well and if he leads us around we should be able to get away with the win."
Ronayne has received a huge amount of praise from CYMS captain-coach Jarryn Powyer this season, not only for his performances but also his leadership qualities on and off the park.
There's few in the competition who hit harder than Ronayne and he'll look to leave his mark on a number of Group 10 rivals at Forbes' Spooner Oval.
"You want to play but the focus has always been around Dubbo CYMS. But I'll obviously still be giving my 110 percent best, for sure. I'm glad to play," he said.
"I'll try and do the same thing and play my game and get involved as much as I can and lead from the front.
"There's some other good forwards there and I'll just fill in and do a job."
Reclaiming western bragging is the focus on Saturday, but that will quickly switch back to CYMS and maintaining an unbeaten start to the Group 11 season on Sunday.
After last weekend's bruising loss to Guildford in the Challenge Cup final, a match Ronayne missed, a number of players will be rested for the meeting with the struggling Westside.
With Brad Pickering still suspended and Byron Warren out injured, Powyer has opted to shift Ronayne to the number one jersey.
It's not an unfamiliar role as he was a regular than during his time with Tullibigeal Lake Cargelligo Sharks in Group 20 earlier this decade.
He played at fullback when the Sharks won a Group 20 premiership in 2013.
"I played there at Lake and I loved it," Ronayne said.
"It's one of my favourite positions and I'd play there every week if I could."
While he may enjoy fullback, he's also well at home in the back-row, where he's been since former CYMS coach Tim Ryan put him following his return from Group 20.
"And I haven't looked back. I love it," Ronayne said.
Despite the mass of changes for Sunday's derby, CYMS will still be a raging favourite.
As well as Pickering and Warren, CYMS will also be without Jyie Chapman, Alex Bonham, Ben Marlin, Hamish Astill, and Powyer.
Saturday's representative clash at Forbes is scheduled to kick-off at 2.40pm on Saturday, while the Dubbo derby at Apex Ovals starts at 2.30pm on Sunday.
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