It was only a few months ago that getting ready for training included milking cows, operating a digger and then travelling two hours in a car for Kalani Going.
Before he joined the Warriors on a more formal basis in the middle of this season, Going – who made his NRL debut in the Round 27 loss to the Dolphins – was spending his days working on his uncle's farm in Northland before completing the five-hour round trip to and from Go Media Stadium in order to train with the squad.
Farming had been the 26-year-old's means of earning a living since he returned to New Zealand during the pandemic, following years spent in Australia for rugby league.
But that's back on hold for now as the former Raiders U-20 forward looks to realise his dream of becoming a full-time NRL player, after impressing Warriors coach Andrew Webster enough to be brought into the full-time squad for trainings this year.
After spending several games in the wider NRL reserves or as 18th man, Going's opportunity finally arrived as the Warriors rested the majority of their frontline stars in Round 27, coming off the bench to play 35 minutes.
"I wasn’t too sure how this year was going to play out, but I definitely didn’t think that I’d be in 19 or 18-man NRL squads," Going told NRL.com.
"When I heard the NSW Cup team for the Warriors was starting up I thought ‘I’ll give this one more crack’.
"Full-time [next year] would be good, but I’ll just keep my head down and keep working and see what comes of it.
I am just happy [Webster] still likes having me around. Staying around and getting as far as I can is the goal.
Kalani Going
He comes from rich sporting stock, with his father's side including several All Blacks and his mum being the sister of former NRL player Kylie Leuluai.
Making his debut at Suncorp Stadium all the more special was the presence of close mate Paul Roache, who also appeared at first-grade level for the first time.
With four years having passed since his last contract with Canberra ended – during which time he had a stint with Tweed in the Queensland Cup and played domestic rugby union for Northland – Going had come to terms with his path to the NRL being gone, before Roache convinced him otherwise.
"Paulie set the idea in motion to have one last crack and see how far I can go," Going said.
"I’d stopped thinking about rugby league – I sort of gave that dream up – but when the opportunity popped up with the Cup team I thought I would give it one last try.
"I didn’t really think I would get here a few months ago, so it's been a worthwhile journey."