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Growing up in country NSW, the notion of one day playing 150 NRL matches seemed far fetched to Jesse Ramien.
But the Dubbo-born powerhouse will achieve that milestone when he runs out against Canterbury at Sharks Stadium tomorrow night, the culmination of an NRL journey that began as a fresh-faced 20-year-old at Cronulla in 2017.
The damaging centre is grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the landmark occasion on home turf with his loved ones cheering from the stands.
"The old cliché is the dream is to play one NRL game," Ramien said.
"To reach this is just massive. It's something you don't think you're going to do being a young Indigenous kid from the bush, but to play 150 in the NRL is just a proud moment for me. It's unreal. This is the club that gave me my first opportunity.
"To be able to come out and play my 150th here... Cronulla is pretty much like a second home for me, so to do it here – at this club where I debuted, in front of my friends and family — it's going to be massive."
After starting out in Manly's junior system, Ramien was enticed to the Sharks midway through 2016. In a nod to his extraordinary ability, he was selected as a rookie to play in Cronulla's 2017 World Club Challenge match against UK Super League champions Wigan Warriors, scoring a try in a 22-6 loss overseas.
Returning to under 20s level that year, Ramien was an integral member of a minor premiership-winning NYC squad that also featured his current NRL teammates Blayke Brailey, Sione Katoa, Briton Nikora, Will Kennedy and Teig Wilton.
An official NRL debut came against the Knights in Round 26, 2017, with Ramien bagging a try in a 26-18 victory at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium, before establishing himself in first grade the next season.
Following a stint at the Knights in 2019, Ramien was welcomed back home to the Sharks and has remained a tackle-busting machine on the right edge.
Ramien has played 132 of his 149 matches to date in black, white and blue, notching up 52 tries for the club including one in this year's Las Vegas season-opener.
A proud Wiradjuri man, the 27-year-old has represented the Indigenous All Stars four times as well as wearing the green and gold of the Prime Minister's XIII team.
"It's been a bit of a wild ride. There's been plenty of highs and plenty of lows as well. I wouldn't change a thing about it," Ramien reflected.
"It's brought me to where I am and made me the person I am today. It's all part of it."
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon speaks of Ramien in glowing terms.
"Jesse's really evolved. He's a consummate professional, Jess," Fitzgibbon said.
"Even from a young age, I think the talent was blatantly obvious. He was always an extremely talented player who could come up with those (big) moments.
"But he's turned into a really hard-working player. The biggest compliment I could give him is how he managed to play against the Cowboys last year on his ankle injury. He missed the first semi against Melbourne but he could barely walk.
"He got himself out there to get through a semi-final against the Cowboys last year. It ended up costing him the prelim final. What he put himself through to get that job done and the way he played was a testament to someone who cares about his teammates and the club and hard work as well.
"We're thrilled for Jess and he's so consistent and reliable for us."
Ramien was presented with an embroidered 150th game jersey on Friday morning, with his family on hand to mark the special occasion.
Having scored a try in his first, 50th and 100th NRL matches, Ramien will be hoping to continue his milestone streak against the undefeated Bulldogs.
Kick-off tomorrow is at 7.35pm AEDT – CLICK HERE to secure a ticket.
