NEW Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes recruit Nathan Byrne is keen to experience some success upon his return to the Riverina League.
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The Goannas landed one of their biggest recruitment coups of the last decade in October when they lured Byrne to the club.
Byrne, 27, has spent the last eight years playing in Melbourne but the desire to play alongside some of his best mates will see him travel home each week to play for MCUE.
Byrne caught a glimpse of his new surroundings last week as he made his way to Wagga for a few days, where he was able to train with the Goannas.
“It was really good to put faces to a few of the names and meet a few more of the players,” Byrne said.
“It was good to train under Trav (Cohalan) and work on what he wants done with structures, team rules and those sorts of thing.”
Byrne played all his junior football at Riverina League rivals, Turvey Park, and burst onto the senior ranks at the Bulldogs.
He said a desire to play alongside good mates, like Ryan Price and Jack Killalea, was one of the major reasons behind his decision to sign at MCUE.
“To play footy with my mates was the number one thing,” he said.
“Having some success is the ultimate goal. I’ve never been able to play in a senior premiership, and there is a lot of water to go underneath the bridge before we can start talking about that, but to have success is what everyone starts training in November for.
“They’re the main two reasons.”
Byrne, a tall utility, arrives at MCUE after six seasons at Essendon and District League club Avondale Heights, where he is a former club captain and best and fairest winner.
He has no preference as to where he lines up on field for the Goannas.
“I’ll play wherever Trav plays me...I don’t really have a preference,” he said.
“The last five or six years, I’ve swung between centre half-forward, centre half-back and the ruck, depending on what we’ve had.
“I’ve probably played a little bit more in the ruck the last few years but I’m a smaller ruckman so I’ll play wherever.”
Byrne will travel home alongside fellow MCUE recruits, Dylan de Britt and Jordan Foster.
The trio will train together with a Melbourne club.
The Goannas have enjoyed an excellent off-season and kept departures to a minimum.
MCUE begin their season with a round one game against Coolamon at Mangoplah Sportsground, followed by the bye.
