By Tallon Smith

After fighting a painstaking battle to be readmitted to the Macarthur Rugby League competition in 2024, the South West Goannas have made a major addition to their roster, acquiring the services of current Cook Islands Captain and former NRL star Brad Takairangi.

After spending 2023 with Dapto in the Illawarra competition, Takairangi joins former New Zealand Kiwis forward Greg Eastwood at the Goannas, as they look to push the fledgling club up the ladder in all grades this year.

South West RLFC President Mark Baird said that the signing of Takairangi proves that despite the club’s tumultuous off-season, things are looking up in 2024.

“It proves that we’re on the up,” he said.

“The club is building for the future, which was always our intention.”

The club’s victory in overturning their rejection from the competition means that there will be eleven clubs in the top grade in 2024, creating greater opportunities for further growth of rugby league in what is one of the state’s fastest growing areas.

Baird said that this makes the club’s mission so important, to provide further opportunities for people to play the game at a First Grade standard.

“It’s an opportunity, we’ve given everyone an opportunity, there’s probably players out there that are plodding along in Reserve Grade or on the fringe of First Grade, and Under 18 players that have walked away from the game that are maybe not getting an opportunity,” he said.

“We’ve always [said] that we’d give people an opportunity, all positions are open, there’s no safety net on anyone, so everyone’s got to fight for that position, if they want to play First Grade, they’ve got to put the effort in.”

As for what Takairangi and Eastwood will add to the side, Baird said that the biggest thing aside from starpower will be the experience of playing in the upper echelons of the game.

“You’ve got 500 games of First Grade and International experience with those two people, they’re only going to be teaching people aren’t they,” he said.

“If you can’t learn off of someone with that experience and knowledge, you’re kidding yourself.

“With the assistance of Luke Deller, our Coaching, Player Development and Recruitment Manager, they’re there to assist the growth of the club, and they’re putting back into community rugby league.”

Alongside their big plans for this year, the club retains a long-term vision for their success and for the health of the game in the region, with facilities being a key part of achieving those goals.

“With the assistance of Nathan Hagarty, who has come on board with us and has offered advice and assistance, we’re planning for the future growth of that northern region of rugby league and to get into those corridors where rugby league’s not being serviced,” Baird said.

“Rugby League is not being serviced in the Northern Corridor of Nathan’s new electorate of Leppington, but with the assistance of him and the council,hopefully we can look to have a facility provided for the long term future.

“There’s new schools being built in that area, [but] there’s no rugby league facilities [yet].”

The South West Goannas were formed in 2019, starting in First Grade before winning the Macarthur Open Age Gold (Third Grade) competition undefeated in 2022 and being promoted back to First Grade level.