But the marquee recruit is serious when he says he wants to prove the Brumbies' doubters wrong this year after stepping out of his Perth comfort zone to take a chance in Canberra.

It's a move that was four years in the making and Godwin is now the face of a new generation of Brumbies in what looms as the biggest season of his career.

Godwin's journey from growing up in Zimbabwe and his family's move to Perth has been a well-told story since he made his mark as a 19-year-old at the Western Force.

The lesser-known tale is one of a young Godwin being lured to Canberra by World Cup-winning coach Jake White for a one-day training chance in 2013.

White was keen to sign Godwin as the next big thing in Australian rugby in a move that would have seen him play alongside Christian Lealiifano and Matt Toomua.

Godwin decided to re-sign with the Force instead. But in a career twist, Godwin is now the man who will shoulder a massive workload in trying to fill the playmaker holes left by Lealiifano and Toomua.

"Coming to the Brumbies is a chance for me to grow as a player and as a person," Godwin said.

"I know it's a cliche, but the last four years really have been a rollercoaster for me. I've had some great highs and some low lows with injury and form.

"I was talking to the Brumbies when Jake White was the coach and I definitely considered that as an option. I love the way the Brumbies play and I love the culture of the club.

"I was passionate about the Western Force and it's where I grew up and who I wanted to play for. So I passed up the opportunity back then, but I just couldn't pass up the chance to play and train for the Brumbies this time.

"This time it was a change for me to challenge myself and to grow. I thought being at the Brumbies was the best for me to grow as a player and a person ... moving out of my comfort zone as well.

"I was very comfortable in Perth. So for me to challenge myself, hopefully that makes me a better person and player."

Godwin's stint with the Brumbies will start with a hoodoo-breaking mission to play against the Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Some have already written the Brumbies off as title contenders this year because of an all-star list of players who left the club at the end of last season.

Toomua, Stephen Moore, David Pocock and Joe Tomane left Canberra in a roster overhaul that will see 14 new players trying to replace more than 500 Super Rugby caps of experience.

But Godwin believes the group of unknown replacements can rise to the challenge and help the Brumbies make the finals for a fifth consecutive season.

"For me, the big picture is the pride in the Brumbies jersey," Godwin says as blue and yellow paint drips from his chin.

"You want to do that Brumbies jersey proud because the players of the past have done it. Now our challenge is to do the same.

"Everyone is already writing us off so hopefully we can be a surprise packet of the competition.

"The Brumbies have been a successful team in the past and now it's on us to make sure we don't let it slip because the opportunity to play for the club is massive."

Godwin, 24, has been forced to endure injury pain and form slumps that have stalled his rise from Australian under-20s star to future Wallaby.

He had to wait until the spring tour of Europe last year to make his Wallabies debut and his brief taste of Australian gold has made him hungry to get back to the Test arena.

Godwin counts Pocock as one of his closest mentors and it's easy to see why.

They both grew up in Zimbabwe before their families moved to Australia and then became teammates at the Force before Pocock moved his career to the Brumbies.

Now Godwin has followed and they will be reunited next year when Pocock returns after a 12-month sabbatical from Australian rugby.

"Poey is such a great person and role model," Godwin said.

"He was great to me when I was a young kid at the Force, he really looked out for me and took me under his wing.

"He still does that today. I roomed with him during the Wallabies tour last year and he was the person who presented me with my first Wallabies jersey. That meant a lot to me because he always been like a guiding hand for my career and an inspiration.

"Poey is a great player and you want to play alongside people like him and Christian Lealiifano, it's a dream come true."

Joining the Brumbies also a chance for Godwin to work with childhood hero Stephen Larkham and Lealiifano, who is in remission after being treated for leukaemia.

It's a big step for Godwin, who was once too shy to say anything to Wallabies centurion Matt Giteau when Godwin was part of the Force's development squad and Giteau was the club's star.

So how will Godwin handle the pressure of anchoring the Brumbies back line in a role that Larkham, Lealiifano and Giteau have all filled?

"Kyle has great skills and reads the game well," Larkham said.

"We had a hole in our squad and Kyle fills that quite nicely. He fits the culture of the Brumbies, he's passionate and always looking to improve.

"I think the reason he came here to take the next step in his career. He came here knowing he has an opportunity at becoming a better player."

Godwin said: "I know the Brumbies have been successful in the past and that's what I'm striving for. It's all about pride in that jersey."