Burgess was a key part of the Roos' Blowes Cup winning side last season and his move to league is certain to shock many after he also racked up a number of representative honours in 2014, including selection in a NSW Country side which toured America late last year.

But after achieving so much in rugby and having grown up playing league, Burgess wanted the chance to prove himself in the rival code.

"I've been playing union for seven or eight years and achieved a fair bit but now this is something new, I wanted to have a crack at league and it's not like I haven't played before, I played through school," he said.

"Obviously I've spent a lot of time playing union so you do forget some things but I've got a few weeks of training ahead of me and the basics are still there, it's just some of the little things now."

Dubbo CYMS chairman Kevin Walkom admitted he was impressed by the former Narromine Gorilla when he met him to discuss coming to the club and said the signing of Burgess continues a productive off-season, with the Fishies also signing two players from local rivals Macquarie to link up with coach Tim Ryan's side.

"It's probably one of the more upbeat signings, we've had a good off-season and also signed Ash Conn and Craig McLean, they've come across too," Walkom said.

"Scotty had shown some interest and spoke to Tim (Ryan) and told him he felt he wanted to play for CYMS and that the Fishies was a good fit for him. "I had a good talk to Tim about him as well and Tim is familiar with all his abilities so he's excited to have him."

Burgess said the chance to join a club which has been so successful on and off the field in recent times was a major drawcard for him.

"It was a big thing, when I went to Kevin he spoke about the club culture and what it's all about, they're good rules to have and other clubs look at them and see what to do and coming from the Roos it's good because they were the same," he said, before speaking about the tough decision to leave the Roos.

"I had a chat to a few of them and they're happy, there's no grudges which is good but it was hard, I was pretty fond of all those boys but it was just time to make a change." It is yet to be seen how Burgess, who filled a number of positions with the Roos but found a home at flyhalf, will fit into CYMS star-studded backline but with Blake Tremain-Cannon set to miss the 2015 season there is an opening in the halves.