Daniel Mortimer re-signs with Orange CYMS for 2022 season

Mortimer linked with his hometown club in late 2019 and had initially committed to the captain-coach's role for two seasons.

But the two seasons haven't gone exactly as he had hoped, with the 2020 competition completely abandoned due to COVID-19 while the pandemic also resulted in the 2021 finals being scrapped.

That, combined with the opportunity to be part of the new Peter McDonald Premiership next year, led Mortimer to extend his deal.

"I didn't feel like my work here was done... I've still got that burning desire to win one," he said.

"I'm a competitive sort of bloke and the way the season finished, that played on my mind a bit.

"I've still got that burning desire to try to win a premiership here. There's also that incentive to play in the first ever western comp."

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Orange CYMS will feature in a Group 10 conference in next year's competition while there is expected to be a number of cross-conference matches against Group 11 sides throughout the season.

The Orange side is expected to be one of the top contenders for the new crown, after finishing the 2021 Group 10 season as minor premiers.

The potential all-CYMS battle with the Fishies of Dubbo will be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the new competition.

"Anything short of a premiership is a failure," Mortimer fired, before speaking about his pre-season plans.

"I don't believe in long pre-seasons.

"We'll probably come back in January. I don't want to wear the boys out before we throw the boots on."

Mortimer, who has played at halfback for CYMS, played 128 matches in the NRL across nine years while he also spent two seasons with Leigh Centurions in 2017 and 2018.