Just last month Mathew Lyons was playing for Canberra Raiders in a trial, but a desire to head back home has seen him move on.

The 21-year-old admits he lost love for the game trying to follow his NRL dream.

With his young family in tow, he's hoping to rediscover his passion for the game with the Tigers.

"I've got my young fella down here and just wasn't enjoying footy up there," Lyons said.

"I was a bit homesick."

Lyons used to live with Derek Hay in Canberra and it was those connections which helped steer him to the Tigers.

Gundagai coach Adam Perry is thrilled to have him on board.

"We're really lucky," Perry said. 

"He played a trial at the start of the year with their (Canberra's) top squad but obviously things didn't work out there and he's got a little fella back home in Wagga and just wanted to be closer to family."

Lyons could also be the solution for what Perry is going to do with the impending departure of former captain-coach James Smart.

Smart switched to fullback last season but heads off to play in America about a month into the season.

However Perry isn't sure what role Lyons will play, with centre another strong option.

"He played fullback last year and that is one of the options we've got," he said.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure at this stage and things can change in the four or five weeks before Smarty goes.

"It depends on how we are travelling injury wise."

They also need to replace James Curgenven after the Englishman returned to rugby union.

Either way the 21-year-old is set to make a real impact for the club.

He's set his sights on winning a premiership.

Lyons' return could set up a showdown with older brother Jack, who was on the wing for Southcity in their grand final loss to Gundagai last year.

However the speedster wasn't at Bulls training this week, and didn't play in the nines at Cootamundra last weekend either.

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