Since he broke into Orange CYMS’ Group 10 premier league side, Cam Jones has never been one of those “superstar players”, so often synonymous with a team’s success.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
No, the burly, underrated bookend has built his game on hard work, consistency and more than anything, an undeniable reliability.
He’s often flown under the rader as a result, and despite being among the best props in the competition has never earned a senior representative jersey.
In fact, he said he hasn’t played rep footy since he was a pre-teen.
There’s a real chance that could change in 2017 after Jones, on the back of a huge campaign last winter, was named in the Western Rams’ under-23 squad on Thursday.
“It’s pretty exciting for me, I don’t really remember the last time I played for Group 10, probably under 12s or under 13s, so a long time ago,” Jones laughed.
“I’ve never been one of the superstar players, I’ve always just tried to work as hard as I can and play my role in whatever side I’m in.”
That role, as with most front rowers, has been to get his side on the front foot with bustling hit ups and control the middle third of the paddock in defence.
Jones – nicknamed Trundler by the CYMS’ faithful – has played that role beautifully in the last few seasons, acting as the perfect foil to the bone-jarring Simon Osborne and game-breaking Mitch Davis in the green and golds’ enviable front-row rotation.
He won't have Osborne with him this year though, instead he’ll have giant kiwi Chris Bamford.
Jones is one of four Orange CYMS to make the cut for Darren Jackson’s 47-man preliminary squad – along with Ryan Griffin, Jerome Harrison and Jack Bastick – which will be cut down to 34 after two training sessions at Manildra’s Jack Huxley Oval – the first of which is on Saturday.
Four Orange Hawks also made the cut, gun fullback Jedd Kennedy, 2016 skipper Max Wolfson, along with Ethan McKellar and Kyle Robbins will all vie for a spot in the final squad.
Jedd Kennedy (Orange Hawks), Kyle Robbins (Orange Hawks), Ethan Mckellar (Orange Hawks), Max Wolfson (Orange Hawks)
That group will take on the Newcastle Knights’ under 20s’ – a squad which includes Blayney’s Lachie Farr and Forbes’ Mitch Andrews – in February. Then, after the divisional trials in Dubbo, Jackson will name his final squad for the 2017 Country Championship at Cowra, in May.
“It’s a pretty long road ahead,” Jones said.
“I’d love to end up in the final squad but there’ll be plenty of hard work to do between now and then, I’ll just have to try and impress at the training runs and hopefully get a start from there.
“It’ll help a little bit having the other CYMS guys there, a few friendly faces.
“It’s really nice to get a reward for all the hard work over the last few years.
“We’ll see how we go from here on now.
“Either way, whether I make the Rams side or not, I’m looking forward to trying to help CYMS go one better this winter.”
WESTERN RAMS UNDER 23s: Lewis Stanley (Wellington Cowboys), Braden Carney (Trangie Magpies), Sam Dwyer (Parkes Spacemen), Jordan Pope (Parkes Spacemen), Jedd Kennedy (Orange Hawks), Kyle Robbins (Orange Hawks), Ethan Mckellar (Orange Hawks), Max Wolfson (Orange Hawks), Cameron Jones (Orange CYMS), Jerome Harrison (Orange CYMS), Ryan Griffin (Orange CYMS), Jack Bastick (Orange CYMS), Jackson Brien (Oberon Tigers), Ryan Richardson (Narromine Jets), Nathan Orr (Mudgee Dragons), Camden Sutton (Mudgee Dragons), Zac Adams (Mudgee Dragons), Codie Lang (Manildra Rhinos), Mitch Case (Lithgow Workies), Keelan Bresac (Lithgow Workies), Ben Maguire (Forbes Magpies), Hayden Bolam (Forbes Magpies), Nick Greenhalgh (Forbes Magpies), Mitch Burke (Forbes Magpies), Blaze Fuller (Dubbo Westside), Kiyan Shaw (Dubbo Macquarie), Phil Combridge (Dubbo Macquarie), Alex Bonham (Dubbo CYMS), Ben Marlin (Dubbo CYMS), Hamish Astill (Dubbo CYMS), Wade Kavanagh (Dubbo CYMS), Khaleb Whitehurst (Cobar Roosters), Rick Nobes (Cowra Magpies), Adam Richards (Condobolin), Travis Brazier (Collarenebri), Raka Tuheke (Blayney Bears), Deryne Mckenzie (Blayney Bears), Matt Ranse (Blackheath), Nick Millar (Bathurst St Pat’s), Hudson White (Bathurst St Pat's), Jack Mackey (Bathurst St Pat's), Mitch Squire (Bathurst St Pat’s), Blake Lawson (Bathurst Panthers), Jake Betts (Bathurst Panthers), Jarred Seager (Bathurst Panthers), Jed Betts (Bathurst Panthers), Nick Loader (Bathurst Panthers).
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
