Bulldogs winger Bryson Goodwin says his ex-Kangaroo father Ted Goodwin has backed his decision to pledge his international allegiance to New Zealand.

Bryson Goodwin, who was born in the NSW town of Parkes, is one of four new caps in the Kiwis side for a one-off Test against Tonga in Rotorua on Wednesday.

The match is a dress rehearsal for the New Zealanders before they fly out for the inaugural Four Nations tournament in England and France.

Goodwin, who was in prolific try-scoring form for the Bulldogs this year, qualifies for NZ through his Maori grandmother and has already represented New Zealand Maori.

He said his father was happy he had chosen to turn out for the Kiwis.

"I've talked to Dad and he's happy, and that's the main thing," he said.

"He just said to do whatever I wanted to do."

"Lord" Ted Goodwin played for the Kangaroos in 1972 and 1973.

His two other sons, Luke and Bronx, have also had NRL experience, with Bronx playing for Cronulla this season.

Luke's NRL teams during the 1990s included the Bulldogs, and he also represented the New Zealand Maori at the 2000 World Cup.

Bryson Goodwin, who had made just seven first-grade appearances for Cronulla before this season, admitted that he was surprised to make the Kiwi tour party.

However, his selection comes after an impressive first campaign with the Bulldogs in which he helped last year's wooden spooners to a top-four finish.

His 24 appearances brought 20 tries, the fourth-best haul in the competition.

The last of those came in the preliminary final against Parramatta and produced a moment of controversy, with opposition fullback Jarryd Hayne charged by the match review committee after leading with his legs in trying to prevent the four-pointer.

Goodwin, 23, credited his club-mates for what he described as his most enjoyable year in the NRL.

"I put my success down to the good backline we had at the Bulldogs," he said.

"Our backline in the Kiwis looks pretty good as well."

Against Tonga, Goodwin will join Newcastle centre Junior Sau and Sydney Roosters prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala as new caps in the starting line-up.

Another debutant, Rotorua-born Manly backrower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, will be on the interchange bench.

In all, there are seven uncapped players in the 23-man New Zealand squad for the Four Nations, which begins with a Test between the Kiwis and the Kangaroos in London on October 24.

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