Brett Morris, son of St George legend Steve, started last year playing NSW Cup for Shellharbour Dragons and finished it by starring for the Kangaroos in their four-nations triumph in England. Along the way he became the NRL's leading try-scorer.

Goodwin, son of former Test player "Lord" Ted, watched the progress of the Dragons flier with interest and hopes to follow a similar pathway to stardom after signing with the Dragons' feeder team.

The 26 year-old is training with the St George Illawarra full-time squad in preseason and is hoping to gain a career lifeline after tumultuous stints at Canberra and Cronulla.

After playing 23 first-grade games, Goodwin was sacked by the Raiders at the end of 2008 after being charged with assault. He then experienced an injury-interrupted season with the Sharks, playing just four matches in 2009.

"It's another chance to play in the NRL," Goodwin said of his opportunity with Shellharbour.

"Hopefully it pans out for me the same way it did for Brett.

"I've still got a tough preseason ahead of me; I haven't been in training for six or seven months so obviously I've got to get fit and come back that way.

"Hopefully I get my chance."

Like Morris, Goodwin is Dragons royalty - both players' fathers were stars at St George. "Slippery" Morris was an electrifying winger and halfback in the late 1970s and early 1980s, while "Lord" Ted was a premiership player with the club in 1977. Both were internationals.

Goodwin was raised in Perth but was always a Red V supporter and says he is proud to follow in his father's footsteps.

"I grew up a Dragons fan and to come back and play here, where dad played, means a lot to me and to my old man," Goodwin said.

"Hopefully I can give a bit of a show like he did. I'm living with him at the moment and he's proud of me. He doesn't really say much about footy these days but he did say, 'At least you're wearing the red and white now - you're wearing the right colours'."

Not only do Morris and Goodwin share an impressive rugby league lineage, but both have talented siblings - Josh Morris and Bryson Goodwin - at rivals Canterbury.