The Sydney Roosters are back in the grand final, but one of their starting centres feared they would never play rugby league again after a brutal spell of injuries.
Rob Toia needed incredible resilience to make the milestone match, as horror runs sidelined him for much of his prime.
Toia ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2022. Six games into his return, he broke his jaw and then experienced a second ACL rupture in training.
When he finally got a spell of good health, the 22-year-old centre proved why he was such a highly touted prospect at the Roosters.
Now a Queensland Origin star and recently crowned Dally M centre of the year, Toia is ready to add a premiership to his resume.
"During those times when I was injured, I think the first thing that came to mind was, will I ever play footy again?," Toia told AAP.
"Fast forward a couple of years later, to think I'll be playing at a grand final, I can't believe it to be honest."
Toia's teammate and centre Billy Smith has suffered three season-ending ACL ruptures, a lisfranc injury, shoulder surgery and broken jaw in his career.
At just 26 years old, there were times when the adversity felt insurmountable.
Coach Trent Robinson marvelled at the local junior's persistence, sacrifice and dedication.
"(Billy) is an inspiration to us, he is the reason that our club is the way that it is because he keeps turning up," Robinson said.
"There are many times where Billy thought it was the end. There were many injuries where he thought it was just easier to finish and not keep playing and each time, there was a fire inside him that says I am going to go again.
"Us as a club, we were like, 'is it the end?' And he kept saying 'no'."
Now both players have a chance to repay the Tricolours for all that support with a stellar performance in the NRL's biggest game of all.
Australian Associated Press
