Michael Morgan is in the period of a player's life when you just need to pinch yourself to see whether it is all real.
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Finally established at the top level, an emerging star of the game, and now an NRL grand final awaiting him in seven days' time.
Life can be that good sometimes.
"It is unbelievable, it is always the dream throughout the year and the main goal but to actually be here is awesome," Morgan told NRL.com after the Cowboys' 32-12 Preliminary Final victory over Melbourne.
"I always thought we were capable of getting to a grand final but you know there is a lot of hard work to go into it, it doesn't just happen."
Morgan is a significant factor as to why it happened. For the second-straight week the Cowboys faced a do-or-die game and for the second-straight week it was Morgan who stepped up to be a two-try hero.
His double on Saturday night came in the space of four minutes as the Cowboys blew the Storm away to set up a date with the Broncos in an all-Queensland decider.
Three weeks prior, North Queensland fell short in Melbourne but Morgan did not play that night. The scoreboard at the end of the preliminary final further emphasised just how big a difference he makes to this Cowboys side.
Storm captain Cam Smith said on Friday he didn't think Morgan was even in high school when he made his NRL debut and on Saturday night the student overshadowed the master.
"I still look up to him to be honest," Morgan said of his Queensland Maroons skipper.
"He is a great player, a great leader and the way he conducts himself on and off the field, he is someone who I think everyone who plays the game would look up to in some way and respect.
"Coming down here and versing him in a game like this, you get nervous for it because it is such a big game. He has been there and done it plenty of times before but to get the win it is awesome."
Morgan's rise in 2015 has been meteoric and the dizzying heights he has reached should hold him in good stead for what shapes to be the biggest week of his life.
"I will try and enjoy the week as much as I can, it might never happen again. I will try and make the most of it, enjoy it but in the back of my mind I'll still know there is a job to do," Morgan said.
"You don't want to let anyone down, especially the whole of North Queensland. They've waited a very long time and we've had a lot of support from them so hopefully we can do it for all of them as well."
If Townsville is to toast its maiden premiership triumph in a week's time it will likely have its No.6 to thank for it.
