The workhorse second rower has spent the past four seasons with Brothers, after linking with the club from Junee, but is looking forward to a new challenge.

The chance to play alongside Southcity captain-coach Nathan Rose was a big drawcard to make the switch to another Wagga club.

"Nathan has a lot of respect around the group, has been a part of a few grand final winning teams, has a lot of experience so it will be good to learn off him," McCauley said.

"I've got a few mates over there as well now so it is a good chance to try out a new team."

With Tim Hurst, Brody Tracey and Tim Jones returning to the fold after a year off there is already plenty of competition for places in the back row of the Bulls.

However the 23-year-old is looking forward to a new challenge.

"Training has been tough and no one is really guaranteed a spot," McCauley said.

"Everyone is pushing each other and that is where you get the best out of each other - by making them train a little harder to earn that spot."

Bulls football manager Matt Ward is pleased to have McCauley on board.

Especially with the club expecting little turnover from last season.

"He's seems like a real good fella and he's playing Riverina this year so that's a real good sign as well," Ward said.

"He looks really good at training and it should really bolster us."

While the majority of the side remains intact, the Bulls will be without Tyson Hodge.

Hodge made a big impact through the middle in his return to his junior club last season.

"We've got a lot of back rowers but might be looking for someone to step up front a bit," Ward said. "We might have to make our way around there as big front rowers don't fall out of trees.

"We might have to modify our game a bit but we do have some good front rowers floating around with a few big kids but it is just a matter of whether they can step up for a full year.

"There is plenty of potential amongst them."

After suffering a nasty ankle injury in 2019, star representative centre Usaia O'Sullivan is back at training.

However Ward is unsure what role he will take.

"Sai has been training, and training pretty well actually, but it is up to him and what he wants to do," he said.

"His first thing was to play ressies but after seeing him train I don't think he will play much ressies if he is keen to have a go.

"He is quite fit and the main thing is he can run around and not get busted as when I saw him do it I didn't think he would play again."

McCauley joins a growing list of players to leave Brothers after they were knocked out in the first week of finals last season.

Former captain-coach Cameron Breust and Hayden Philp have linked with Group 20 club Leeton, star playmaker Dylan McLachlan has made the switch to play with Southern Inland premiers Wagga City, stalwart Brayden Sharrock has joined Kangaroos while Liam Carey and Aaron Wynne are expected to sit out the season.

Despite the large player drain McCauley doesn't believe there is an underlying issue at the club.

"Nothing has really happened but a few blokes are taking the year off and a few have moved on," he said.

"There was no real reasoning to it but I was just after a change.

"I thought I would try out something new."

READ MORE