Having moved countries on his own as a teenager to chase his dreams, Braden Hamlin-Uele fought off thoughts of taking the "easy road", heading back to New Zealand and becoming a tradie.
Good thing he stuck it out. Hamlin-Uele's perseverance will be celebrated on Sunday when he marks his 100th NRL match against the Cowboys at PointsBet Stadium, the 29-year-old's first top-grade game of the season after knee surgery.
After initially coming across the ditch to play SG Ball for the Roosters, then joining North Queensland and finally finding a home at the Sharks, where he is signed until 2026, Hamlin-Uele reflects with gratitude and humility on his career.
"It's been a very big rollercoaster ride. It's been a lot of ups, a lot of downs, a lot of adversity, a lot of success personally," Hamlin-Uele says.
"I'm still kind of pinching myself getting to 100 (games). I got to 50 and I thought that was a massive achievement. Getting to 100, I'd be so proud of myself as a younger player looking up at me. It's quite an amazing journey."
Hamlin-Uele made his NRL debut for the Cowboys against the Roosters in 2017 under late coach Paul Green. As fate would have it, he'll face his old team this weekend with the Man of the Match to receive the Paul Green Medal.
"It is a full-circle moment," Hamlin-Uele says. "These things are meant to be and they're meant to happen ... what better story?"
Early years
From the moment he stepped onto a rugby league field as a four-year-old for the New Lynn Stags in Auckland, Hamlin-Uele was hooked.
"I remember making a tackle and running over to my dad on the sideline to give him a high-five and not even worrying about the game," he says.
His ability led to being signed by the Roosters to play junior representative footy, forcing him to leave his tight-knit family and live alone in a new country.
"That was a bit of a challenge, but I think it's made me quite resilience and stronger and made me grow up a bit faster than usual," he says.
"There were challenges, but I see them more as lessons."
His next stop was Townsville, continuing his development in the under 20s for the Cowboys before playing a lone NRL match for the club.
"The debut in 2017 was just like living a childhood dream. You look at guys on TV like Ruben Wiki, Sonny Bill Williams and you think, 'That's where I want to be eventually'," Hamlin-Uele says. "To get that debut, it was pretty special."
Becoming a Shark
Hamlin-Uele's call to join Cronulla in 2018 proved pivotal, learning from premiership-winning players like Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Andrew Fifita.
He notched up one NRL game in black, white and blue that year - making his club debut along with Jack Williams against the Raiders - but truly hit his stride in 2019.
"I applied myself to my trade and did things away from training that I wouldn't have done in 2018 for some reason. It was just the year difference," he says.
"It made me grow up a heck of a lot on the professional side. I'm so glad it did."
Such was his form in 21 matches for the Sharks that season, Hamlin-Uele was rewarded with his first international cap for New Zealand in a 26-4 loss to Australia.
"Making my debut for New Zealand at the end of the year was amazing," he says. "Again, you watch guys on TV that have played before you and you think, 'Far out, what an achievement that would be'.
"I think I let myself down in terms of how ready I was for it. I thought I was ready but probably physically I didn't allow myself to perform how I wanted. But it was an opportunity to put on the black and white jersey and it's something I'll never forget."
The explosive front-rower has since represented Samoa at Test level.
"Wearing that blue and white jersey and flying our flag, it's something I'll never forget," he says. "I don't think I'll ever move again. I think Samoa is my (international) team to play for now and I'm excited to wear that jersey again."
'This is my home away from home'
Seven years into his stint at the Sharks, Hamlin-Uele was recently faced with his toughest contract decision yet when the chance to return to New Zealand came up.
As well as not wanting to uproot his partner Chenille's life within a year of her moving from Brisbane to Sydney, he couldn't bear the prospect of departing the club where he's played 98 of his 99 NRL matches to date.
"This is my home away from home … Every year it just gets better and better. I've bought a home here. The club's given me a lot of opportunity," he says.
"I can only repay them with giving them my all, playing my part and hopefully bringing another premiership back."
While constantly adding impact for Cronulla through the middle, perhaps Hamlin-Uele's most memorable moment as a Shark so far came after scoring against the Warriors in 2021, joining forces with Jack Williams for an epic celebration.
Mimicking Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's famous People's Elbow WWE move on Williams, Hamlin-Uele's theatrics will live on highlight reels for years to come.
"I was lucky enough to get a try and we didn't even rehearse it. He (Williams) sold it, he made it what it was," Hamlin-Uele recounts. "If he didn't sell it as well, I think it would be pretty funny to see it botched. He did an awesome job."
Those at the game on Sunday will likely see a sizeable supporter group, made up of family and friends, wearing T-shirts featuring Hamlin-Uele's image.
"Mum and dad and my sister are coming over, my partner will be here with her dad and his partner and her son. A lot of family from out west are coming," he says.
Reflection is important to Hamlin-Uele, who journals his thoughts regularly, as is gratitude and acknowledging the people that are firmly in his corner.
"I want to thank my family first and foremost," he begins.
"From when I was a young boy to now they've been by my side.
"I want to thank my partner Chenille. She's been massive for me. Last year would've been very rough without her and she's kept me grounded and always uplifted me. She's always been by my side for this and I cannot thank her enough.
"All the boys, the team and the coaching staff here, they've been massive too. It's humbling to see how they reacted to me getting to play my 100th game here. It makes me feel very nice and warm and fuzzy inside when they reacted like that."
After a long off-season rehabilitating a knee injury, Hamlin-Uele also reserves praise for the physio staff at the Sharks who have got him ready to fire.
"There's so many people I want to thank and I'm sorry if I've missed anyone. You all know how important you are on my journey," he concludes.
"We're all a part of this 100th game."
