INVALUABLE LESSONS

I was named in jersey No.16 on the Tuesday. I was just told that a decision would be made once we had all the information together. For me, it was just a case of preparing as usual.

Finding out I wouldn’t play was a bit disappointing, of course. Grand finals don’t happen every day, and you never know if another chance will come. But I was just grateful for what had happened over the past couple of weeks; getting the chance to play in the prelim and contribute to the team. I never expected to be there and it was massive for me.

That’s what a club is: you do your job, when and where it’s needed, and everyone plays a role. Watching the boys celebrate, knowing how much hard work they had put in, seeing the pure excitement and relief on their faces – it was unforgettable.

During the game, I was sitting next to Lindsay Collins and Sean O’Sullivan, other boys in the squad who had done warm-ups. I was speaking to Sean, who is also leaving the club, at full-time and we just said to each other, ‘What a good way to go out’.

That grand final win makes it all worth it; it caps off the past five years at the Roosters. I joined them from Souths juniors, the year after they won the 2013 premiership in Robbo’s first season as coach, so I’ve experienced that full cycle to winning the next one.

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Words can’t explain what it means for me to get the opportunity to fulfill a life long dream last night, I just wanted to quickly thank everyone who I have been involved with in rugby league who has helped me get to this point and most importantly my family and friends for all the support over the years. I’ve had my fair share of hurdles as everyone does but to debut with a club that has been a major part of my life makes it all the more worth while! @sydneyroosters

A post shared by @ paulmomirovski on Jul 16, 2018 at 1:08am PDT

To play that game earlier in the year, I really proved to myself that I can be a first grader in the NRL. You’re unproven until you get that game, but I made it and I showed I belonged.

It has really fuelled the fire in me over the past couple of months to become the player I think I can be in the NRL. It’s given me confidence to take to my new club.

I’m definitely feeling good about joining the Wests Tigers. I’ve got Ryan Matterson coming over with me from the Roosters as well. I’m looking forward to being part of the club’s resurgence.

I’m just looking forward to pre-season, meeting everyone, making a good first impression and getting to feel at home there. You don’t get much production out of yourself if you don’t feel comfortable. It’s about gaining trust with the boys, that’s where it all starts.

Hopefully I get myself in a position to play NRL, first and foremost. If I earn the right to play in that team, the first game against the Roosters may be a bit of a weird one. But that’s footy. I’m a Tigers player from here on and I’ll give them my absolute best.

Even after spending just one season with him, it’s something I’ll always look back on and try to emulate. If you’re doing half of what Cooper Cronk is doing, you’re doing all right.

I’ll carry forward some invaluable lessons from the Roosters. From Trent Robinson, most of all.

Since I started at the Roosters, Robbo has been massive for my development. He’s the kind of coach you’re in contact with regardless of where you sit in the grades at any given time, because he cares deeply about his club and his players; about seeing both improve to be the best they can be.

And look at this record. His teams have done well every year. He’s a great man and a great coach, one who brings a different level of thinking, who pushes his players to become better footballers and people.

The track record is there: his teams peak at the right time. They’ve been good all year, the Roosters, but to see the boys come out and perform as they have in the finals, when everyone’s battling fatigue from a long season, it speaks volumes of Robbo’s methods.