For fan favourite, now officially recognised club great David Peachy, Cronulla was a long way from his Dubbo roots before it became home.
Earlier this week, the fullback was named one of 11 inaugural inductees to the Sharks' Hall of Fame.
Arriving in the Shire from central NSW town in the early 1990s, when Arthur Beetson was first grade coach, Peachey played 232 games at the club from his debut in 1994.
His unique, expressive play style has been a focal point in highlight reels from the time.
"When I came down to the Shire, it was exactly that - bright lights, city beaches," he said at Tuesday's induction ceremony.
Adding to a largely local squad early in his career, Peachey said the community treated himself and others from out of town "like one of their own".
He said the foundations of his game was built playing in the front yard, with his uncles taking part, as a kid, "coming inside with bloody nose and skin off your knees".
"They just tell you, get back out there and get back into it…they were there for me right from the very get go," he said.
A little bit of David Peachey for ya Thursday!#NRLIndigenous#NRL pic.twitter.com/PJ8baCi5At
— NRL (@NRL) May 10, 2018
Peachey said the honour will take some time to "sink in", and hoped he's given a little bit back to the game which gave him so much.
"To leave Dubbo, to come down here and just think it was a pipe dream, but 200-odd games with this club has meant the world to me," he said.
The 50-year-old was inducted alongside Dave Sorensen, Mat Rogers, Jason Stevens, inaugural premiership captain Paul Gallen, Brett Kimmorley and immortals Greg Pierce, Steve Rogers, Gavin Muller, Tommy Bishop and Andrew Ettingshausen.
Peachey captained Cronulla in the early 2000s, played in the 1997 Super League grand final, and fell short of another shot at the premiership in four unsuccessful preliminary finals.
He represented NSW in the 2000 State of Origin series.
Peachey finished his career with a short stint in the UK and final playing days with South Sydney in the mid 2000s.
The self-founded the Indigenous youth and sport focused David Peachey Foundations was established following his retirement.
His nephew, Tyrone Peachey, played 209 NRL games across five clubs and three Origin games before his retirement in mid-2024.
