The two most successful and consistent Western Rugby League teams will meet in the Peter McDonald Premiership (PMP) Grand Final on Sunday, when the Dubbo CYMS host the Mudgee Dragons at Apex Oval.
The CYMS and Dragons claimed the Group 11 and Group 10 Minor Premierships, respectively, in the second edition of the new-look PMP competition.
The two powerhouses match up nicely on paper, having finished the regular season with the same win/loss record (11-3).
In the post-season, both sides comfortably progressed to the Grand Final.
CYMS breezed past Orange Hawks 28-6 in their Quarter-final before a 38-20 win over the Parkes Spacemen in Saturday’s Preliminary Final.
The Dragons made no mistakes either, defeating Parkes 28-20 in their Quarter-final before they accounted for Orange Hawks 30-20 in Sunday’s Preliminary Final.
While he didn’t want to talk down rival clubs, CYMS coach Shaun Townsend believes two worthy teams will be battling for premiership glory on Sunday.
“If you wanted the best sides from Group 10 and Group 11 playing in the Grand Final, you’d be happy, but it's not as simple as that, as we both played some good competition throughout the year,” Townsend said.
“If you look back on it, we’ve been two of the most consistent teams, but it didn’t happen overnight, and we had to beat some good teams to get here.”
There’s no denying that CYMS have been a Group 11 juggernaut, with the Fishies winning 15 Grand Finals since 1969.
Incredibly, when they take the field on Sunday, it will be their 18th Grand Final appearance in 21 completed seasons. Recently, they haven’t taken advantage of their chances, and Townsend admitted it was a talking point amongst Rugby League pundits and rival clubs.
“The talk is there because it is actually reality,” Townsend said.
“2017 is the last time the group got over for a Grand Final win, and there have been circumstances since then, and one year they lost their captain/coach to suspension, but the reality is that we haven’t played well in Grand Finals.
“Even last year, I look back and think I got the preparation a bit wrong, so I’ve done things a bit differently.”
Townsend worked his players hard ahead of last year's 28-16 loss to Forbes Magpies in the inaugural PMP decider, but he’s learned his lessons and will take a step back in 2023.
“I wanted the team to be fit and rock hard last year, and I might have cooked a few blokes,” Townsend said.
“We had blokes with shin splints and torn calves, and I look back now and realise I might have got it wrong training them too hard.
“I’m still learning on the run, and this year, it’s more about the boys being a bit fresh; it’s been a long season, and they’re fit, so it’s now about not over-cooking them and getting that balance right.”
Townsend will go against the trend of treating Sunday’s decider like any other game, and he is imploring his players to enjoy the week, as Grand Finals don't come around all that often.
“A lot of people will say it’s just another week and to keep it low key, but in reality, it’s not another game; it's a Grand Final,” Townsend said.
“Instead of pretending it’s not coming up, we are embracing it, and we’ve taken the approach of wanting to get out and about and do a few things with sponsors, have a big dinner, and enjoy the week because they don't come around that often.”
While they’ll soak up the hype, the Fishies will have their game faces on when they take the field on Sunday, and Townsend said there was no secret to their gameplan.
“It’s a bit cliché, but we’ll look to hold on to the footy, not give away penalties, and make our tackles,” Townsend said.
“Mudgee is a good team, and they have got some experience with their coach (Clay Priest) and Jack Littlejohn having played in the NRL and played at that elite level, and we don’t have that.
“Still, I’m confident in my team, and we’ll be out there to give it our best.”
In their only meeting this season, a Round Nine crossover match in Mudgee, the CYMS prevailed 18-12 in a physically draining contest.
Dragons coach and former NRL player Clay Priest has the utmost respect for CYMS, but he wasn’t going to focus on them in the lead-up to Sunday’s highly-anticipated fixture.
“We’ve just got to worry about ourselves,” Priest said.
“There is strike all over the park for CYMS, and that’s why they are there in the Grand Final, but the minute we start to worry about them, it will distract us from how we should be playing.
“We’ve got a gameplan, and all we will be worrying about is sticking to that, and I've got no doubt that if we play our best, we can win.”
Priest won’t take the field due to suspension, but in his first year coaching the Dragons, he is thrilled to be competing for a PMP title.
“I am just really looking forward to the day, and I'm keen for it to be tomorrow,” Priest said, laughing.
“Circumstances have prevailed where I’ll be on the sideline, and while it’s not about me, it is my first year of coaching, and to see the boys improving and playing some good footy ahead of the Grand Final is really rewarding.
“The boys are pumped, and we’re ready to go and see what comes off it.”
Mudgee have a bit to play for, as the CYMS ousted them in the 2022 PMP Preliminary Final when winning 34-4.
Priest wasn’t buying into any talk of a favourite and underdog in Sunday’s match, as he believes it will be a tough 80-minute slog as both Dubbo and Mudgee chase their maiden PMP title.
“Everything that has happened means bugger all to me, and at the end of the day, the best side wins,” Priest said.
“It’s a new competition, and new silverware is on the table, and whoever wins this will get their name on the trophy and go down in history as one of the first winners, which is important for the club and community.
“We’ll look to be on from the opening whistle and come out on top, but there are two sides, and both of them are quality, so it should be a good game.”
It will be a massive day in Dubbo on Sunday, with four Western Rugby League competitions to be decided.
Click here for all Western Rugby League results and Grand Final draws.
