LOOKING to defend their 2015 Group 10 premier league title, Orange CYMS announced their first major signing for next season on Wednesday.

And it’s a big one.

In a major coup for CYMS, Orange Hawks’ 2015 captain-coach Brock McGarity has signed on to don green and gold next year, after being overlooked to continue his tenure as the two-blues’ mentor.

The signing puts a number of rumours surrounding the utility to bed, in particular whispers of a move to Blayney or a switch back to rugby union, to re-link with junior club Orange Emus.

With Emus looking to replace title-winning five-eighth Adam Perri, word was McGarity was considering switching back to the 15-man code, where he originally made a name for himself as an Australian Schoolboy playmaker.

The 26-year-old confirmed he had thought about returning to Emus, but the chance to continue developing as a rugby league player, and the opportunity to once again link with former Hawks’ captain-coach Tim Mortimer swayed his decision.

“I did (consider switching codes), and I’ve a few mates still at Emus too but I’d still like to be playing rugby league,” McGarity said.

“Mainly, (the move was) for something fresh and new. It was getting a bit stale where I was, and it’s a new challenge.

“I’ve spoken to (CYMS player-coach) Mick Sullivan, had lunch with a few of the senior guys, and went to the club’s Christmas party already. CYMS have been really welcoming, not just for me but for the wife and kids too.

“(Mortimer) and I had a good, solid combination at Hawks, and having spoken to him as well, it’ll be really nice to be able to play with him again.”

McGarity is likely to fit into a scarily talented back-line already boasting the likes of Sullivan, Ben McAlpine, Robbie Mortimer, Jerome Harrison, Semisi Katoa and potentially Tim Mortimer too.

Despite the loss of regular first graders Trent and Matt Rose (unsigned), Tim Bassmann (Cowra Magpies), Logan Pocklington (New Zealand), Luke Petrie (Blayney Bears) and Ben Gosper (Orange Barbarians), along with fringe players Luke Coleman and Wayne Collett (Manildra Rhinos), McGarity’s addition along with that of former Redcliffe Dolphin Brenden Cousins has CYMS poised for an all-out assault on the 2016 title.

“Obviously CYMS have been very successful over the last five or six years, especially this year, not only in first grade but also their reserves,” McGarity said.

“Hopefully I can add something to the side next year. We’re looking at me probably playing in the centres, which is good, that’s where I prefer it.”

McGarity said the burden of captain-coaching being alleviated will be a welcome change, although he did say he enjoyed the role last year.

“I enjoyed parts of it,” he explained.

“With injuries and that sort of thing, and how the season was, it was a bit of a shame that was my first year coaching.

“But I’ll be relieved to just play footy again. Hopefully I’ll get back to playing some really good footy too.”

CYMS are expected to announce more signings for the 2016 season in the near future.