WHILE the signing of Scott Burgess is sure to get tongues wagging among CYMS fans, the Fishies have been dealt a blow with the news star five-eighth Blake Tremain-Cannon is set to miss 2015.
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Tremain-Cannon was a key part of the CYMS side which took out last year's Group 11 competition and was named Bob Weir medallist as player of the match in the grand final.
But his work commitments look to be too demanding in 2015 and CYMS chairman John Walkom said the club are lucky to have signed a similar kind of player in Burgess to replace the experienced and versatile Tremain-Cannon.
"Blake looks set to have some time off," he said.
"It's looking like he'll miss this season, there's a lot of demands at work on the farm and a big workload so it puts a lot pressure on him.
"I'm confident to say he'll be out this season but we see Scotty (Burgess) as a good replacement."
Burgess played five-eighth for the majority of the season with the Roos, meaning he is familiar with the responsibilities of being a playmaker and steering a side around the park.
Walkom said he and first grade coach Tim Ryan were confident Burgess would rediscover his rugby league skills in no time but would leave all on-field decisions to the coach.
"There's no pressure but with his discipline and mindset I don't think you'll see many tackles where he ends up putting the ball behind him," he laughed.
"But where he plays is all up to Tim, he's no stranger to the halves, centres or fullback which is not unlike Blake, he was a bit of a utility in the backs as well."
With his on-field skills similar to Tremain-Cannon, Walkom also felt two-time Blowes Cup winner Burgess was a similar person to the utility and confessed he was hugely impressed when he met Burgess in person for the first time weeks ago.
"That's why I liken him to Blake, they're very similar personalities and have a good discipline at training and are both very competitive," he said.
While Walkom was full of praise for Burgess and expected him to fit in seamlessly, the former Dubbo Roo was more modest about his chances and said his aim is just to make the first grade side.
"They've got a lot of players that have been there for a few years now so I'm going to have to get stuck in and that's good because it's going to make me work even harder," Burgess said.
"I'll play wherever Tim wants me, I'd just be happy to play first grade.
"There's a good base of players, great coaches and a great board so I'm just looking forward to round one."
