Every drop of ink stretching around Ryan Sutton's right arm has a story to tell.
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Although some are clearly more meaningful than the others, because the Canberra Raiders' English recruit can't help but laugh when he points at the tribal piece adorning his upper arm.
"Obviously we'll start off with the tribal, that's a little 16-year-old mistake," Sutton said.
"You think you're a big boy when you're 16 and you've left school, so you want a tattoo. Unfortunately that was the first thing I got."
What about the flowers crawling around his forearm? Sutton's voice quivers when pressed about what they are for - they are clearly no teenager's mistake.
These ones are for family members that have passed away, and those watching from afar in England as the Raiders forward sets his sights on tackling the Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on Saturday.
"I do it for them," Sutton says as his voice softens.
"It's the first time I have been away from my family for this period of time, so there is definitely an incentive to push on and do it for them.
"On the other side of that, [trying to prove myself in the NRL] is probably for myself as well. I want to try to prove myself, and having the family in the back of my head, it gives me the drive to push myself as far as I can.
"You watch [teammates like Elliott Whitehead, Josh Hodgson, and John Bateman] and you're striving for what they've got. They're international players, and that's my dream in rugby at the minute, to try to get there.
"It's anyone's goal to play for your country, you can ask anyone that. I just want to take baby steps. I've come over here to try and show my face in the NRL and make a career for myself over here.
"This is step one. I'm just going to look at it game by game."
The 23-year-old has made it clear he is not in the NRL to make up the numbers - he is here to test himself, to make an impact, to build on the legacy he started in England.
Sutton's life in Canberra has him far removed from the Merseyside village of Billinge he was born in, but not so far from the two Super League titles he won with the Wigan Warriors.
Alongside him in Canberra is his ex-Wigan teammate Bateman and former Super League stars Hodgson and Whitehead.
He is counting down the days until he has a few more familiar voices around with his mother Alison, father Matt, and brother Aiden visiting soon.
"I keep trying to tell mum and dad and the rest of the family to come over, it would be easier doing that than calling. I'll be seeing them soon, they'll be coming over," Sutton says.
"I've got a younger brother, 19 going on 40, he thinks he knows it all. We're pretty close to be fair, he's a grafter. He's always got the urge to be doing something
"He used to play but unfortunately he had a knee injury, he was working at that time and it got a bit too much for him. He probably made the right decision in pursuing one as a career, he's an electrician.
"He's taking over the family trade a bit, he works for my uncle. He's doing really well. I'm quite proud of him actually because it was a tough decision to make to stop rugby and to get on with a job."
On the other hand, Sutton's job is football, and he is desperate to take the Green Machine back to the finals with his band of English brothers.
NRL ROUND SEVEN
Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval, 2pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Jack Murchie. Reserves: 18. Aidan Sezer, 19. Bailey Simonsson, 20. JJ Collins, 21. Hudson Young.
Manly squad: 1. Brendan Elliot, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Moses Suli, 4. Brad Parker, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Kane Elgey, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8. Toafofoa Sipley, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Martin Taupau, 11. Joel Thompson, 12. Curtis Sironen, 13. Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 14. Manase Fainu, 15. Jack Gosiewski, 16. Corey Waddell, 17. Morgan Boyle. Reserves: 18. Kelepi Tanginoa, 19. Sam Smith, 20. Lachlan Croker, 21. Taniela Paseka.