The 28-year-old said he’s excited at the prospect of playing for the first time since August, 2015.

“Forwards often play their best footy in their late 20s or early 30s, so I still have a lot to offer both on and off the field,” Freeman said.

The hard running backrower joined the Thunder in 2015 from ACT powerhouse Queanbeyan Blues.

“I wasn’t happy with the year I had in 2015,” he said.

“I had a crook back and then hurt my shoulder before finals, so I’ve never felt better.”

Freeman missed the 2016 season after he was deregistered by the NSW Country Rugby League back in February while he appealed a conviction for a one-punch incident in 2013.

That conviction was later overturned but Freeman was sentenced to six months in jail for a lesser charge resulting from the same incident and has only recently been released.

He knocked back coaching approaches from Group 10 outfit Orange Hawks and Wagga Kangaroos, while Canberra club Tuggeranong Valley was also looking to entice him home.

A former Canberra Raiders under 20s player, Freeman was also an Australian Schoolboys representative. 

Ironically, former boom Thunder team-mate Ben Jeffery will now coach fellow Group Nine unit, Kangaroos.

“I’ve just moved not far from the ground (Greenfield Park), and I’m partners with ‘Seato’ (Thunder premiership player Chris Seaton),” Freeman said.

The Thunder have now signed three players with experience at NRL clubs, in blockbusting winger Etu Uaisele and lower grader Jarrod Brackenhofer.

“I’m not pointing the finger at anyone, but I think we’ve gone away from our culture over the past few years,” Thunder football manager Josh Cale said.

“We want a first grade side which is a good representative off the field, looking after our sponsors, and doing as much as we can in the community.”

Albury finished fourth on the ladder last season and bowed out in the second week of finals with a loss to Junee.

The Thunder will be under new leadership in 2017 after signing Tuki Jackson as playing coach.

He has spent the past two seasons with Group 20 club Yanco-Wamoon.

Albury will open their season against Temora at Nixon Park on the first weekend in April.