The twin signings were confirmed on Monday, with the green and golds bolstering its 2021 Group 10 minor premiership winning squad with the additions of McKellar and Ikinofo ahead of what will be the first Western-wide rugby league premiership race in history.

It's clear Dan Mortimer's CYMS mean business in 2022.

"For us, it's always about keeping the quality we have," CYMS president Cam Jones said when confirming the new signings.

"But when the calibre of those two come knocking you have to jump at the opportunity. We were interested straight away."

Jones said the pair approached Mortimer about switching camps for the 2022 season.

"They were after a fresh start," Jones added.

Ikinofo is a former junior Warriors squad member and has played rugby league in Australia at a high level too, having represented NSW Country and played for Lakes United in the Newcastle competition before making the move to Group 10.

While McKellar has previously captained Western's under 23s side, having transitioned from Parkes to Orange Hawks in 2017.

McKellar will be a ready-made replacement in the middle of the field for the Cowra-bound Jack Buchanan.

While Ikinofo is a barnstorming centre, and will give Mortimer and halves partner Joe Lasagavibau a real weapon on the edges.

Under the new points system adopted across all NSWRL community competitions for 2022, the duo will carry significant points weighings having jumped from one Group 10 club to another, but Jones said, with a large contingent of CYMS juniors in the top grade, it won't be an issue.

"We'll have a pretty similar squad to last year," he said.

One other change, though, is the loss of 2021 best and fairest Jack Nobes. The gun rake has returned to Cowra to coach alongside Buchanan in the Magpies' return to premier league next winter.

That leaves the CYMS' No.9 jumper vacant for next season, and Jones said it looks as though it'll be a race in three to fill the void.

He said Josh Board, Pat Williams and Isaac Lettice will be vying for the role.

"It's pretty exciting, all three are young fellas. Hopefully one of them can grab the position and hold it for a long time," he said.

CYMS' signing news comes on the back of the 2022 Peter McDonald Premiership being locked in after the Group 11 annual general meeting on Sunday where all bar one of the region's western clubs nominated.

It's expected Wellington will follow suit in the coming weeks, though, ensuring a 13-team competition is run.

"I get the hesitation (from the Cowboys). There was a lot of questions asked at the Group 10 meeting, too," Jones said.

"But once a few clubs jumped on board, the others did too. And I think it'll be the same with Wellington. As a club, we're excited."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: