The Canberra Raiders are the talk of the NRL and now they've got a television show rookie in their ranks to bolster their charge to the finals.
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The Raiders have signed reality TV rugby league player Lou Goodwin after a tense finale of the NRL Rookie at Star Event Centre in Sydney on Tuesday night.
Emerging Canberra star Jordan Martin finished as the runner up in the three-way final that saw clubs nominate their player of choice.
The Raiders showed interest in hard-working lock Goodwin and the 24-year-old will link with the Green Machine at the best possible time.
The Raiders are charging up the ladder and face a tough two-week test against the top two teams, the Cronulla Sharks and the Melbourne Storm, as they look to enhance their premiership credentials.
The Raiders and the Gold Coast Titans expressed interest in signing Goodwin. Both clubs pitched contracts to Goodwin before he settled on the Raiders.
Goodwin, the son of former Penrith Panther Matt, is taking his crack at an NRL contract and Raiders football manager John Bonasera said he would slot perfectly into the Canberra set up.
"You alluded to in your video that the life of a professional sportsmen is limited, and that's true," Bonasera said to Goodwin.
"For you to do what you love and to play with the best competition in the world, you've got to make a sensible choice. We think our club is the best place for you.
"Somewhere you can stay true to your values, your family and your roots and play great footy. We've got a history of working with boys like you, boys taking different opportunities and pathways.
"We're a country club, people like Jarrod Croker, Paul Vaughan and Shannon Boyd all have country roots. So we think we're a great [fit] for you and all of our research says you're going to be a great fit for us."
TV presenter Erin Molan said Goodwin was choosing between the beaches of Surfers Paradise and Lake Burley Griffin.
Co-host Brad Fitler said Canberra would be a "comfortable" fit for Goodwin given his country background, having played in Albury and won three best and fairest awards.
"I'm going to have to go with the Canberra Raiders," Goodwin said.
"Ricky Stuart [is there as coach] and runs such a good ship, I've been down there with the Mounties and it's such a good club.
"They really looked after me and I just really want to be a part of their system."
Martin, the son of Raiders dual premiership winner Paul, now plays for the Mounties Ron Massey Cup side, and his 17 tries in 17 games earned him selection in the competition's NSW team.
The 21-year-old has type 1 diabetes and has juggled managing the condition with football since he was a kid.
