Had the English tea leaves settled slightly differently at the bottom of George Williams' cup, the hard-nosed Wigan boy would have never pulled on a lime-green jumper.
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Long before he signed with the Canberra Raiders, in the middle of a golden run with Wigan in the English Super League, Williams first started piquing the interest of NRL clubs.
But there were grand finals still to be won at his home-town club, and he spurned an early opportunity to ply his trade in Australia.
"It was 2016...my agent told me there were a few clubs interested and I was blown away by it really, that's the first time I thought this could actually happen," Williams said.
"I decided not to, I signed a new deal at Wigan. When the opportunity came this time around it was just an opportunity I couldn't miss.
"Testing myself was the biggest thing. A lot of people in England always say that the English don't go well out there unless you're a forward and that motivates me."
Staying at Wigan four years ago proved a masterstroke for the 25-year-old, who is now on the verge of a preliminary final in his first NRL season.
He won the 2016 Super League title, and backed it up with another ring two years later alongside now Raiders teammates John Bateman and Ryan Sutton. That success made the decision to leave his family behind in England much more palatable when the Raiders sought his services.
"I've known Batty [Bateman] since I was 17, I've known Sutty [Sutton] since I was 12, me and him played local rugby together," Williams said.
"It was a no brainer for me when Canberra was interested and the offer was on the table. I was a bit older, coming out at 25 now...bit more experience behind me. I was a bit more mature in myself moving away from family and friends.
"At 21 you're still growing up that last little bit."
Despite the immediate impact Williams has had on the NRL, season 2020 has not been easy for the former Wigan ball boy.
Williams grew up in Swinley, a suburb in north Wigan plonked in the middle of England's industrial north where winters are harsh, grey skies and rain are common and rugby league is almost a religion.
At barely six years of age he went and watched his first Wigan match and was instantly hooked - so much so he became a ballboy at the club he loved. He worked his way through the junior ranks and made his top-grade debut in a Challenge Cup match against Leigh Centurions, scoring a try as a bright-eyed 18-year-old.
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Upon moving to Australia, he arranged for family to visit during the year to alleviate any potential homesickness. Then COVID-19 shut down the world, and those plans evaporated - along with any possibility of going back home come season's end.
"My Mum, my younger sister and then my granddad was going to come over in June I think it was but obviously that got canned, that's been pretty tough," Williams said.
"Thank God for Facetime, that helps when you can actually see them on the other side of the phone otherwise I think I'd be losing my marbles."
Williams moved to Australia with his partner Charlotte, and had hoped to spend a lot more time with his father who lives in Perth but that has also been scuppered.
"We was meant to play in Perth to play the Roosters [before COVID-19] but nothing went to plan this year, I've not seen anyone in my family."