When teams for the Western Rams' Andrew Johns Cup side dropped on Thursday, Callum Johnson's name had the captaincy badge next to it.
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It was a surprise to him, his coach and everyone, considering the captain was yet to be named for the side, but it's lit a fire in the CYMS gun.
The captaincy of the Rams is something he'd love, despite coming in for his debut in the green and white on Saturday in Forbes.
"It'd be a good opportunity but it's not announced until Saturday ... it'd mean a lot if I got it," he said.
"I've put a lot of hard work in to get there."
But if he doesn't, it won't dampen his spirit on the field, with the the hooker "excited" for the prospect after being unsure if he'd be picked for the side despite a strong showing for Group 10 at the back end of 2019.
"I didn't really expect it, nothing's guaranteed but I worked pretty hard for it so I'm glad I got there," he said.
"I've played with Group 10 for a while and it was our last year with them but most of the boys have come across and play Rams now.
"It's always good when you know the boys and I've already got a good relationship with them."
He'll have already linked up with Cowra's Ryan Carroll and Bathurst youngsters Aiden Stait, Tom Lemmich and Manny Tobin, and will have the chance to jump in with the best of Group 11 too, but the strong Orange contingent in the under 16s is the biggest excitement on and off the field.
Johnson's CYMS teammate Nick Murthy will line up alongside him next to former Bloomfield teammates in Angus Staniforth and Lachie Lawson.
"We're all pretty good mates off the field as well."
The Rams line up at Spooner Oval in Forbes at 5pm on Saturday against Riverina.
- Western Rams under 16s squad: 1. Ryan Carroll (Cowra Magpies)2. Angus Staniforth (Orange Bloomfield)3. Lachlan Lawson (Orange Bloomfield)4. Cooper Ferrari (Dubbo St Johns)5. Will Malloy (Dubbo St Johns)6. Nick Murthy Orange CYMS)7. Brad Fuller (Coonabarabran Unicorns)8. Tallis Tobin (Bathurst Panthers)9. Callum Johnson (Orange CYMS) ( C )10. Manny Tobin (Bathurst St Pat's)11. Toby Miller (Parkes Spacemen)12. Baden Moran (Parkes Spacemen)13. Tom Lemmich (Bathurst Panthers)14. Tom Negus (Cowra Magpies)15. Aiden Stait (Bathurst St Pat's)16. Kye Cameron (Lithgow Storm)17. Hayden Morrison (Red Bend)18. Kane Bailey (Red Bend)
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