Something as simple as dinner with the parents was enough motivation for Dylan Farrell to return to his roots.

But he hadn’t completely turned his back on some of his ‘‘best mates’’.

The 22-year-old’s baptism of fire in Dragons colours is likely to come against old comrades at Souths in next month’s Charity Shield clash at WIN Stadium.

‘‘I caught up with a few of them for dinner last week and it’s just good to see their faces again, but it will be very different seeing them on the field,’’ said Farrell.

‘‘Some of the boys I’ve known there since 2008 and they are some of my best mates. It was pretty hard [leaving] but they know what this business is like. It’s all about your family and you look after yourself. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.

‘‘I’ve played the Charity Shield the last three years now I’m on the other team, it’s going to be very different but very exciting.’’

Farrell’s first couple of months with the Dragons was spent commuting between his home town of Culburra and Wollongong for pre-season training.

An inconvenience? Hardly for a man who regularly drove the well-worn path down south on weekends off to carry water bottles for sides in Aboriginal knockout competitions.

‘‘I’m able to see my family on a daily basis, which is a massive help,’’ he said.

‘‘It was only two-and-a-half hours away [when I was at Souths] but it was more of an inconvenience.

‘‘With my parents and family working, it was really hard to see each other but at the moment I can duck down there for dinner.’’

Farrell is also hoping to force his way into a starting spot for the Charity Shield then cling onto it for round one.

Moonlighting between his preferred position at centre and on the wing with the Rabbitohs last year, Farrell was oblivious to St George Illawarra’s struggles in 2013.

He’s seen little indication of it lingering in 2014 after the injection of new blood at the club.

‘‘I’ve been asked by a few people about last year’s disappointment.

‘‘Obviously I wasn’t here, but you honestly wouldn’t be able to tell,’’ he said.

‘‘The vibe around training is really good. 

‘‘Everyone is really excited and you wouldn’t even know what happened last year actually did happen.’’