A year ago, Bailey Simonsson was watching the All Stars game just hoping to make his NRL debut.
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Now he's hoping to force his way into the Maori All Stars side when they run out on the Gold Coast on February 22.
It shows how far the 21-year-old has come in such a short space of time - from train-and-trial to the Raiders development squad to a senior contract all in the space of the 2019 pre-season.
That turned into an upgraded deal, 21 NRL games - including the grand final - and then representing New Zealand at the World Cup Nines.
He now looks set to start the season on the Raiders left wing, outside co-captain Jarrod Croker, when they face the Gold Coast Titans at Canberra Stadium on March 13.
Simonsson was named in the 20-man Maori squad on Tuesday.
His indigenous roots come from his father Paul, who not only toured Japan with the All Blacks but also played for the North Sydney Bears in the precursor to the NRL.
He's hoping to get to immerse himself in his Maori culture in the week leading up to the game.
"It was cool to see them put forward a Maori side - there's so much talented Maori players in the game," Simonsson said.
"Now to be a part of the squad this year - I'm not sure how many minutes I'll play or if I'll play at all - but to be a part of the squad's very humbling and something I'm really looking forward to being a part of ... It's been a big 12 months I guess."
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He was one of two Raiders who are a chance of playing in the NRL All Stars game, along with Canberra five-eighth Jack Wighton.
Wighton's part of the Indigenous All Stars squad, who he's represented four times already.
While Simonsson was hoping to play against Wighton - he was also hoping he didn't run into him too many times.
"I know he's very proud of his culture too. I guess if we both take the field at the same time it'll be cool to play against Jack," he said.
"But I know how hard he can tackle so I'll probably be staying clear of him on the field."
In the meantime, Simonsson's using the Raiders' pre-season to try and lock down his spot on the wing.
There's been talk he was looking to usurp 2019 revelation Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad from fullback.
But Simonsson said that couldn't be further from the truth.
He's too busy trying to make the No.2 jersey his own to have time to pinch the No.1.
"I'm not taking anyone's jersey off them. I'm playing on the wing for the Raiders, or training there, fighting for a position on the wing," Simonsson said.
"I want to make that very clear. As a long-term thing down the track it's a spot that I'd be interested in.
"That's way down the track though and for the time being I'm a winger and learning that role and fighting for a spot."
Part of his pre-season has been dodging the various natural disasters that have been affecting Canberra life on a daily basis.
Smoke, bushfires and mega hail have all forced the Raiders to modify their pre-season program.
Now they have some serious heat to deal with as well, with temperatures to climb into the 40s for the next few days.