White is one of a number of new recruits for the Panthers this season, with the two-time defending Group 10 premiers also bringing in 2020 Mid West Cup premiership winners Abel Lefaoseu and Dave Sellers from Oberon, Cowra back Braydn Cassidy and former Panther Claude Gordon from Group 11.

McCoy's decision to swap the blue and white for the licorice all sorts for the 2021 Group 10 premier league season will make the local derby just that extra bit spicy according to Panthers skipper Doug Hewitt.

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"I've been good mates with McCoy for years and with the family," he said.

"He's made the move over and I think he should slot in quite nicely and it'll definitely add a little bit more to the local derby, for sure."

Hewitt believes White, who plays as a prop, won't necessarily get a starting spot at the club, saying he'll have to work for his spot like everyone else.

"He'll probably be more off the bench, but like everyone in our team, he has to earn his spot," he said.

"I told him from the get-go that there's no walk-ins for anyone."

Lefaoseu may have joined from Oberon, but he had originally signed for St Pat's - alongside former teammates Jackson Brien and Blake Fitzpatrick for the 2020 Group 10 season, however, as the competition never got underway, he returned to the Tigers, who would defeat CSU Mungoes in the decider.

Hewitt said Lefaoseu will play a big part in the Panthers pack this year.

"Abel's going to be a big part of our team this year," he said.

"I'm looking forward to getting him into the Panthers colours and letting him run riot, which he's been doing for teams over the past couple of years in our comp. I'm just glad he's on our side now."

Sellers was another player that was meant to move on from Oberon last year, having signed for Woodbridge Cup side Canowindra Tigers, however, as that competition went into recess because of the coronavirus pandemic, he switched back to his hometown club for the 2020 season.

Gordon, who returns to the Panthers after stints with Cowra, Dubbo Westside and Dubbo CYMS, is expected to be used as utility.

"He's just a bloke that you can always rely on to fill whatever position you need," he said.

"He's going to be really handy and the way he's training, he's training the house down, more keen then ever. It's good having an old head like that, he'll add a lot of stability and we'll rely on him a fair bit."

Cassidy brings plenty of try-scoring ability to the Panthers, in fact he was leading the leading try scorer during the 2018 season, topping the charts with 14, as his Magpies team made the grand final.

Panthers will open its 2021 premier league campaign against local rivals St Pat's on Saturday, April 24, at the Jack Arrow Sporting Complex.