Sharks co-captain Dale Finucane declared in his Grade 6 school yearbook that in a decade's time he wanted to be playing in the NRL.
But the boy from Bega never envisioned recording 250 games – a feat the 32-year-old will achieve against the Bulldogs at PointsBet Stadium on Friday night.
Asked how his younger self would have reacted if he was told he'd reach the milestone in his 13th season of first grade, the ever-professional Finucane said: "I'd certainly pinch myself. I wouldn't believe it."
He added: "That was always a dream of mine from a young age, to play in the NRL, but for it to come to fruition and to be able to play 250 games is something I never in my wildest dreams would have expected to happen."
Noting his kamikaze style, Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon quipped on Thursday there'd be few players who have packed more into 250 games than Finucane.
The wholehearted forward is set to start off the interchange against his first club Canterbury, a full-circle moment that isn't lost on him.
The experience of leading the team onto the field holding the hands of his young sons Freddy and Tommy is something Finucane and his family will cherish.
But in typically selfless fashion, the uncompromising competitor's main concern is ensuring the Sharks can secure victory and start their year 2-0.
"Albeit (I'm) very proud of the accomplishment, it's obviously the start of our season and I just really want this group of players to get off to a really good start and set ourselves up for a really good season," he said.
A six-time grand finalist and two-time premiership winner who has represented NSW, Finucane's journey began playing for the Bega Roosters.
He was recruited by the Bulldogs in 2008, working his way through their junior system before earning his NRL debut in Round 13, 2012 against the Rabbitohs.
Finucane played 14 matches in his maiden campaign and lost just two – one being the decider against a Storm side he'd join with great success a few seasons later.
"It was very surreal to be involved in a grand final, particularly in my first year playing professionally," Finucane said.
"I sort of walked into a pretty red-hot Bulldogs side … I just thought we were going to win every week. Obviously, we got pipped in the grand final by the Storm. We were lucky enough to be involved again in 2014 against South Sydney."
Arriving at the Storm in 2015, Finucane's seven-year stint in Victoria brought a further four grand final appearances and titles in 2017 and 2020.
"I had a really enjoyable time at the Melbourne Storm," he said.
"Moving there at the start of the 2015 season, wanting to move there because of the coach they had there, Craig Bellamy, and the calibre of players they had."
Alongside Storm teammate Nicho Hynes, Finucane switched to Cronulla ahead of the 2022 season and quickly set about making an impression with his work ethic.
"The thing that attracted me to the Sharks was it was the most similar to the club I'd come from in the Melbourne Storm where I could see the potential for success, and obviously having a prior relationship with Craig Fitzgibbon," he said.
His leadership qualities, fostered by learning from the likes of Michael Ennis, Cameron Smith and Wade Graham, have created a significant impact at the club.
Fitzgibbon outlined on Thursday how Finucane's relentless drive and meticulous attention to detail in his preparation have inspired the players around him.
Humble as they come, Finucane is quick to thank those close to him for their contributions to an illustrious career that is far from finished.
"My family's played a massive role in my career so far," he said.
"At the forefront of that has been my wife Maddie, who's followed me around to the Bulldogs, to Melbourne and then back up to Sydney.
"Her selflessness over the course of my career is something I'm very grateful for. Having two young boys has certainly changed my perspective on things. I certainly don't take for granted how lucky I've had it over the course of my career.
"And obviously my parents, who took me around to all the footy games when I was a kid. As a country kid you move around quite a lot for the country carnivals and things, so you're in Wagga, you're in Cootamundra, you're in Dubbo.
"My parents made a lot of sacrifices ... I'm very grateful for them."
As for facing the Bulldogs in game 250, Finucane is reflective: "To be able to play against the team where it all began is very surreal."
