Peter Shillington didn't father any halfbacks. The huge plates stacked with steak and potatoes his four young giants consumed on a weekly basis bear testament to that.
The blood spilt in countless backyard battles for rugby league supremacy does as well; brothers Mark, John, David and James tearing into each other as they tried to emulate their heroes in the Queensland State of Origin team.
For the biggest of the Shillington clan, 26-year-old Canberra Raiders front-rower David, those backyard fantasies will become a Suncorp Stadium reality, when he makes his Queensland debut on Wednesday.
With mum, dad and three brothers watching in the stands, David will go into battle for the Maroons against a NSW team he's hated for as long as he can remember.
He'll also go head-to-head with Raiders teammate Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.
It will be the first time Canberra players have opposed each other in the Origin cauldron since Brett Mullins, David Furner, Laurie Daley and Jason Croker helped the Blues beat Steve Walters' Maroons in game two of the 1996 series.
In the eyes of David Shillington Wednesday's game is more than the realisation of a personal ambition.
It's also a celebration of family and the achievements his brothers have also made.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
Email a friend