For the past 12 years, Jayden Berrell has dedicated himself to the dream of playing in the NRL. At times, he doubted he'd make it.
But spurred on by his family, and with almost 150 reserve-grade games to his name, Berrell's burning ambition will finally become reality on Saturday night.
Called onto the interchange bench for a blockbuster clash with the Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Berrell will forever be known as Shark #562.
At 29 years and 43 days, the classy hooker will rank among the oldest NRL debutants of the modern era, narrowly trailing the likes of former Dragons players Jonathon Reuben (29 years, 92 days) and Darren Nicholls (29 years, 81 days).
It hasn't sunk in for the Runaway Bay junior, who reflected on a journey that began at the Broncos in the now-defunct Holden Cup and led him to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the Queensland Cup before he joined the Sharks in 2022.
"It's been a long ride!" Berrell said as he revealed the moment coach Craig Fitzgibbon broke the news to the team that he'd be facing the Cowboys.
"Tuesday at training, I didn't have a clue. They just put up the Shark number on the big screen. Everything went quiet and then he said I was going to be Shark #562.
"All the boys just jumped on me, almost suffocated me. It caught me completely off guard. It still doesn't feel real, to be honest. Not yet. I started this when I was 17 years old. It's like 12 years I've dedicated everything to achieving this.
"Sometimes it felt like I wasn't going to get there. It felt like the journey wasn't going to get to this point. It feels so surreal to be sitting here about to achieve this achievement. It still doesn't feel real and it probably won't until I run out there."
Berrell, the 2021 Queensland Cup Player of the Year and 2023 Newtown Jets Player of the Year, described his partner Hollie and their young children as his "why".
"Come this Saturday, when I finish (the game) and get to see my partner and kids on the side of the field, that will probably be one of the most special things I've ever experienced," the dummy-half said. "That's what I'm looking forward to."
Berrell is expecting around 30 family members and friends in attendance.
As well as paying tribute to his parents for their support, particularly in his junior years, Berrell expressed his immense gratitude for the Sharks.
"Cronulla is the club that gave me the opportunity to become a footballer and live this life," the Ipswich-born rake said. "Just to be up there now with all the other players, it's pretty special and something I'll cherish forever."
Berrell won't be the only debutant in Townsville tomorrow, with teenage fullback Liam Ison also stepping out for his maiden NRL appearance.
