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Rabbitohs winger Bryson Goodwin in action against North Queensland in Round 7.

Rabbitohs centre Bryson Goodwin believes Perth would be an ideal location for a potential 17th or 18th club if the NRL puts competition expansion back on the agenda one day.

And Goodwin is a better judge than most considering he spent his childhood and junior days living and playing rugby league in Perth.

This Sunday will also mark the eighth straight season the Rabbitohs have taken a home game to Perth's nib Stadium – and the third time Goodwin has made the trip to his old hometown with the team. 

"To go back there is something special for me. I grew up there and spent my whole childhood there. I'm looking forward to it," Goodwin said.

"The profile of the game over in Perth is getting bigger. We have always nearly had a packed stadium over there. They have plenty of teams in the younger competitions over there and they could do with a team there in the future I reckon. 

"There would have been about 10 junior teams I reckon when I was playing back there so it was a pretty strong competition. There's been a fair few of us who have come over [from Western Australia] and played in the [NRL] actually.

"They were mostly around my age group too so we have all done pretty well. Daniel Holdsworth was over there, Le Te Maari, Jon Green, my older brother (Bronx) and I think even Curtis Rona and Waqa Blake grew up over there too."

 

 
With a 5-2 record in Perth since the South Sydney started taking home games there in 2009, Goodwin's teammate Jason Clark is looking forward to facing some familiar faces in unfamiliar territory. 

"The [Titans] have been underrated this year," Clark said. 

"They have a good team, they have a few Souths boys there in Chris McQueen, Eddy Pettybourne and Nathan Peats too so it'll be good to see those faces again as well.

"I believe some of the money through ticket sales go to the Sony Foundation for cancer research which is another positive for us to head to Perth."

The Titans have named mid-season recruit Konrad Hurrell as 18th man which could spell danger for Goodwin if he is included in the Gold Coast's final 17.

Goodwin hasn't lost any of his four games against Hurrell but he remains cautious of the threat the Tongan international poses.

"He's a good pick up for them," Goodwin said. 

"Obviously things weren't working out for him over there at the Warriors so they have done well the Titans. I've played him a few times. He's pretty hard to tackle so I'll have to do my best on the weekend if he plays."

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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