Bryson Goodwin
A versatile Kiwi back whose reliable boot and try-scoring prowess made him a dependable force for club and country across a 15-year career.
Born 1985 (age 41)·NZ international rugby league footballer·Birthday: December 30·Millennials
Biography
Bryson Goodwin carved out a long and respected career in the hard-nosed world of rugby league, defined by his consistency and coolness under pressure. Born in Sydney but representing New Zealand through his father, Goodwin debuted for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2007, quickly establishing himself as a sharp-shooting goal-kicker and a solid presence in the centres or on the wing. His club journey took him to South Sydney Rabbitohs, where he played in the 2013 preliminary final, and later to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, where he became a valued veteran. On the international stage, he was a trusted component of the New Zealand side, contributing to their 2014 Four Nations triumph. Goodwin’s game wasn’t about flashy headlines but about steady, professional output, a trait that kept him in top-flight competitions in both Australia and England until his retirement.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Bryson was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bryson Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Bryson's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2014 Four Nations tournament with the New Zealand national team.
- Played over 150 first-grade NRL matches across stints with the Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, and Sharks.
- Kicked 221 goals in his NRL career, a testament to his reliability as a goal-kicker.
- Represented New Zealand in 13 international tests between 2009 and 2015.
Did You Know?
He is the son of former New Zealand rugby union and league player Darrell Goodwin.
Before his NRL debut, he played for the Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW Cup.
He played his final professional season for the Warrington Wolves in the English Super League.
“You do your job for the team; the tries will come.”
