Group 11 rugby league has been close to the front of everyone’s mind in the six months since the Forbes Magpies scored an unforgettable grand final victory over Dubbo CYMS.

Stories about the Magpies’ stunning win over a previously undefeated Fishies side have been told and re-told but the biggest talking point of the off-season related to matters off the field.

Dubbo CYMS shocked the Country Rugby League community by announcing it would be pushing for a move to Group 10 in 2017 but after countless meetings, votes and proposals the switch was shut down.

If CYMS thought they were disliked by Group 11 rivals before this year, they ain’t seen nothing yet.

Each of the seven other sides will be gunning for Tim Ryan’s men this year with the general feeling being the Fishies thought they were too good for Group 11.

A basically unchanged Forbes side will be pushing again while Dubbo Macquarie shapes as the big improver after a busy off-season.

The Narromine Jets and Parkes Spacemen are keen to improve on last season’s efforts after struggling for consistency at times.

Throw in a Nyngan side now captain-coached by former NRL player Stewart Mills and Westside and Wellington Cowboys teams and it makes it very hard to predict what the top five will be.