League: In the name of the father

Bryson Goodwin. Photo / Getty Images

Bryson Goodwin has had something of a split personality since he was a youngster.

One side of him was rooting for Australia, the country of his birth and the nation his famous father 'Lord' Ted played four tests for in the early 1970s. The other was supporting New Zealand, his grandmother's country and the nation he will make his international debut for in the coming days.

"I used to go for whoever was winning when I was a kid," Goodwin says with a laugh.

Now, though, there are no such quandaries. He is a Kiwi. Just one who speaks with an Australian accent.

Goodwin qualifies for New Zealand through his Maori grandmother and last year played for New Zealand Maori, a side coached by his brother Luke, who once played for the Western Reds.

Another brother, Bronx Goodwin, plays for the Sharks.

Bryson's imminent test debut will establish a first - the first time a father has played for Australia and his son for New Zealand.

Lord Ted made a name for himself during the legendary days when St George were the biggest club in the competition.

They won a record 11-straight premierships in the late 1950s and into the 1960s and were still a powerful side in the 1970s.

Goodwin was a fullback famous for his weaving S runs. He was, as former Wests coach Roy Masters described him, a "walking contradiction".

"He was a man with a dancer's feet and the start of a sumo belly, a paper-lantern grin and a wicked glare," Masters wrote.

He will forever be remembered for his deeds in 1977, when he knocked himself out crashing into the hard turf at the Sydney Cricket Ground just moments after scoring a spectacular solo try in the drawn grand final with Parramatta.

He played in the replay the following week and scored six goals and a field goal in the Dragons' 22-0 victory.

"I enjoy listening to his stories and we used to watch the grand final on tape," Bryson says.

"Dad always let me do what I wanted. He didn't push me. If I asked for help, he would help, but he would never step in.

"He's happy for me whatever I do. He's happy I'm here [with the Kiwis]. It's a chance to play for an international team."

Naturally, the comparisons are never far from the minds of people old enough to remember his father's deeds.

But he is just one of a handful of famous offspring. In last weekend's grand final alone, there was Daniel Mortimer (son of Peter), Joel Reddy (son of Rod), Eric Grothe jnr (son of Eric snr) and Jarryd Hayne (son of Manoa Thompson).

"I grew up in Perth and it's more of an AFL town so [the comparisons weren't] too bad," Goodwin says. "It was when we moved to Sydney that you realise how good he was. The comparisons started coming when I got older."

Goodwin has gone some way to developing his own reputation. He had a terrific season in 2009, scoring 20 tries in 24 games playing on the wing for the Bulldogs.

His last was the try early in the preliminary final defeat to the Eels when he was controversially kneed in the head by Hayne moments after touching down.

They lost that game but the Bulldogs have already been installed as favourites in 2010 after their remarkable turnaround.

One thing that has been highlighted as a reason for their success was the number of new players who came in not scarred by what went on at the club before. Goodwin was one of them, arriving after two seasons with the Sharks.

He played only nine NRL games in that time as he struggled to get a look-in under Ricky Stuart.

"I needed a new start so I was happy I left the Sharks and joined the Bulldogs," he says. "It was good for me. As soon as I started pre-season training, I felt comfortable there.

"I didn't expect to be named in the 45-man [train-on] squad. I pledged my allegiance [to New Zealand] straight after I got picked. I'm stoked to be here."