Former Canberra Raider, Cronulla Shark and St George-Illawarra Dragon Bronx Goodwin will become the most recent of a long line of ex-NRL stars to don green and gold after signing with Orange CYMS for the 2017 Group 10 season.
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Goodwin, the older brother of South Sydney Rabbitohs star Bryson, was born in Parkes and has strong links to the central west region but the strongest and most recent of those was his eldest brother Leon, who took his own life little more than a week ago.
The loss rocked Goodwin and his family to the core and was a huge influence in his decision to sign with CYMS, a club he represented in a pre-season knockout almost a decade ago.
“My brother Leon was laid to rest in Eugowra, he’d been living there,” Goodwin explained.
“Him being in [the central west] was a factor, a big one. Living on the coast, I’d probably normally only be making the trip to visit my brother. Being able to do that more often, stopping in on the way home after games, had a big influence on the decision.”
Goodwin made the decision to commit to green and golds after a conversation with CYMS life member Matt King, a close family friend.
“He basically asked if I’d be interested and I thought ‘why not?’,” Goodwin, who made 32 NRL appearances, said.
“I’d be playing in the country for a while but last year work commitments just became too much, but I got itchy feet.
“It’s a chance for me to have one more year playing. I’ll still be living on the coast but I’ll be back for training at the end of each week, so I’ll have plenty of time with the boys.”
Goodwin’s last and only appearance for CYMS came in 2009, the year after he was sacked by the Raiders, in the then-named Win TV Challenge.
“I was young, blaming everyone else and angry at the world,” Goodwin candidly explained of his Canberra sacking, which came after one fateful night out with Todd Carney.
That night led to two charges of assault, his contract being torn up and a banishment to Country Rugby League to attempt to rebuild his NRL career.
“I’ve matured a lot since then though and I think that’s something I can really bring to CYMS, that maturity and experience,” Goodwin, who went on to play nine more NRL games with the Sharks and Dragons after that, enthused.
“I’m really, really looking forward to getting out there and having a run with the boys but I’m also looking forward to being able to help with the juniors around the club, that’s something I love being able to do is pass some knowledge on to the youngsters and give them a hand.”
Several nominations he received for community awards during his time at the Dragons is a testament to that, they also helped him shake the bad boy tag he’d somewhat unfairly been handed.
Goodwin is expected to slot into CYMS’ already-formidable backline, which already boasts the likes of fellow ex-NRL star and captain-coach Mick Sullivan, representative stars Ben McAlpine, Semisi Katoa and Brock McGarity and another of CYMS’ 2017 signings, Joe Lasagavibau.
With the side CYMS will have on paper, it seems almost inevitable the green and golds will challenge for the 2017 title.
“I’m coming here to win, so hopefully we can do that,” Goodwin said.
“There’s no two ways about it, I play to win and I want to help the boys do that.
“I haven’t spoken to Sully (Sullivan) about what my role will be, I’ll slot in wherever he needs me if he does.”