ALBURY Thunder captain Lou Goodwin has signed with NSW Cup team Mounties.
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In a bid to crack a spot in NRL senior ranks, the 23-year-old Weissel medallist will relocate to Sydney this week to play with the Canberra Raiders’ feeder club.
The triple Albury premiership star took out Thunder’s best and fairest award on Saturday night ahead of teammate Jake Grace.
“Everyone says Mounties is a good club and I just want to give it another shot,” Goodwin said yesterday.
“I’ll see how it goes.
“I have had the best time here and if I can’t make it then so be it.
“It’s going to be hard, but I can only try.”
Goodwin arrived on the Border in May 2011, after captaining the Sydney Roosters under-20s team, and is regarded by many long-time Albury rugby league followers as one of the finest to have played at Greenfield Park.
The star lock has also been on Wests Tigers’ recruiting radar.
“I couldn’t be leaving on a better note after winning another flag,” he said.
“The club and people have been fantastic.
“I think I’m a bit more mature than when I arrived, and I have finished a trade.”
Goodwin’s arrival on the Border came by pure chance after his close friend Andrew Cowhan followed his girlfriend here from Forbes.
“I never thought I would come to Albury but that’s just the way it worked out,” he said.
“Andrew Cowhan and his girlfriend came here first, then Nick (Wilson) and then myself and Mitch (Davis) and Jake (Grace).
“It’s the best thing we ever did.”
Goodwin, a son of former NRL star Matt, said it was difficult to separate the 2012, 2013 and 2014 premierships under coach Josh Cale.
Thunder defeated Southcity in a thrilling grand final to win the first flag before edging out Gundagai in a hard-fought decider at Wagga’s Equex Centre last season.
Cale’s charges crushed Southcity by a record margin this year to leave Bulls’ mentor Daniel Fitzhenry re-assessing his future.
“The three premierships have all been great. It’s hard to separate them,” he said.
“You play with different players each year and this year being underdogs was pretty good.”