Hohepa Puru was enjoying a day off on the golf course when the Sharks utility's phone lit up with a call from Craig Fitzgibbon.
"Look mate, your day's going to get a whole lot better because you're making your club debut this weekend," Puru recalled the coach telling him on Thursday.
"I was over the moon," the skilful forward continued. "He said, 'The boys trust you and I trust you and it's been a long time coming. Just go out there and do you'.
"Crazy enough, I actually debuted against Sharks (for the Raiders). My first game of NRL was against a lot of these boys. Two years later, I'm playing with them."
With an ability to play at lock, hooker or in the halves, the man nicknamed 'Pep' has been elevated to the bench for Sunday's clash with the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. The 22-year-old will etch his name in club history as Shark #564.
The match will mark Puru's third NRL appearance, having represented Canberra twice in 2023 including an elimination final defeat to Newcastle.
After joining Cronulla this season to play alongside his twin brother Niwhai, Puru has bided his time on the fringe of the top team while performing strongly at NSW Cup level for Newtown, averaging 105 metres and 34 tackles per outing.
Hopefully, I put a really good performance out there and cement a spot.
Hohepa Puru
As he prepares to return to first grade, Puru understands his game inside and out.
"I am nervous but I'm also a very different player from what I was two years ago in my NRL debut. I'm a lot more confident now," the two-time Indigenous All Star said.
"I know what I'm going to bring to the table for the team and I can't wait to do my job for them. I feel like it's maturity; I've had two more years playing against men, being around men and training in a high-performance environment.
"I feel a lot more prepared now than I was as a kid two years ago.
"If (Fitzgibbon) played me in Round 3, I'd be nervous in what I can produce for the team. But I've had 14 weeks of footy and reps at training with the boys, so I know what I'll bring to the table and they know what they're going to get from me."
From day one, Puru has been embraced by the Sharks squad, impressing his teammates and coaches with his work ethic and unflappable demeanour.
"It helps having my brother here," he said.
"The boys have taken to me and they've treated me like I'm Niwhai which is with all love and respect. I earnt my respect through games and reps at training.
"I just love the group and they look after me. I don't feel like a kid amongst the group which I feel is a difference compared to two years ago.
"I feel like I've matured as a man and they treat me like that."
Puru will have a handful of family members and close friends cheering him on at Suncorp Stadium, with many more "sending me love through the TV screen".
"I've definitely got a lot of support around me for this weekend," he said.
Having worked tirelessly to secure another shot in the NRL, Puru is determined to prove he deserves a permanent place in Fitzgibbon's first-choice 17.
"Hopefully, I put a really good performance out there and cement a spot," he said. "But even if I go back, I know I'm going to do a good job for the team, and if my time does come again, they'll know exactly what they're going to get from me.
"I'm very grateful for the club, grateful for Fitzy and the fans.
"I'm not big on social media, but mum says there's a lot of people behind me and they've been wanting me to play for a while now. Hopefully, I can put a good performance out there this weekend for the fans and the club."
The challenge of facing Brisbane on their home patch excites Puru.
"They're a good team and they're in awesome form right now," he said.
"I reckon we just focus on us, because the best us is always going to beat the best Broncos. If we can just bring our A game, we'll give them a red-hot crack."
