Holman, who last year helped Cowra Magpies qualify for the Group 10 grand final, had been linked with Group 9’s Temora Dragons, but has decided to join the Forbes club.

The 27-year-old said he was looking for a change after eight seasons with Bathurst clubs St Pat’s and Panthers, and another year with Cowra.

“Just a bit of a change I think,” Holman said of the impetus for the move.

“After playing in Group 10 for so long, I was contacted initially by Temora, and was looking to go there until Greg [Grogan, Magpies president] contacted me and asked if I was interested in going to Forbes,” he said.

Holman said his close ties with newly appointed Magpies captain-coach Zac Merritt and other former St Pat’s team mates Nathan Corliss, Tim West and Matt Tilley was another reason for choosing Forbes over the Dragons.

Holman started out at Bathurst Panthers before he played junior representative football with the Newcastle Knights.

He then returned to Bathurst to build a stellar career in Group 10, initially playing with Panthers before making the switch to St Pat’s.

In 2008, Holman steered St Pat’s to the Group 10 title before missing out on another premiership with Cowra this year. Greg Grogan said Holman was one of the most exciting recruits for the Magpies in recent years.

While the Forbes president said he was yet to watch Holman in action, he is impressed with what he has heard.

“I’ve spoken to some blokes in Cowra who said he was very good and a very good clubman too, which is what we are looking for.”

“The club are very happy that we have got this bloke.”