The former NRL playmaker had set an unprecedented standard at the club, and had the green and golds firing atop the Group 10 first grade table.

After letting the smoke clear on what was an anticlimactic end to the title race - the season was abandoned before finals could be played - the 32-year-old made a decision on his future.

"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.

"Anything short of a premiership is a failure."

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While the structure hasn't been confirmed, Group 10 squads will engage in a new-look competition next season as Orange and Bathurst sides will have the chance to lock horns with the likes of Dubbo and Wellington.

Even though there's plenty of work to be done between now and then, Mortimer doesn't have any plans to rush his blokes back to the paddock.

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

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

Additionally, Mortimer has no plans to go on any sort of recruitment drive as he's adopted the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach.

"All the boys who did a job for us this year deserve a crack next year," he said.

"A lot of them are young, and we all just need to look back on this year and improve our game."

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