There is perhaps nobody happier to see Shawn Blore become the latest success story of Craig Bellamy's Melbourne Storm finishing school than Spencer Leniu.
Sydney Roosters prop Leniu and Storm back-rower Blore were once teammates through Penrith's junior ranks and played for the Australian Schoolboys together.
Leniu revealed for the first time that the pair are in fact cousins - their mothers are sisters - and he took pride in seeing his former teammate resurrect his career at the Storm.
But while Leniu has three NRL premierships to his name and has gone on to play in State of Origin for NSW, Blore has taken a far longer journey to arrive at Friday's Storm v Roosters preliminary final.
Blore left Penrith for Wests Tigers but struggled with injury before heading to Melbourne to master his craft under Bellamy earlier this year.
The menacing forward has gone on to become a constant for the legendary coach this season and is set to go head to head with Leniu for a spot in the grand final.
"We're actually blood-related, my mum and his mum (are sisters)," Leniu told AAP.
"We were always pretty cool with each other but we found out pretty late (in life) that we were cousins.
"But we go way back and did all our development at Penrith.
"I'm happy as for him because he's gone through some dark times and he's reaping the rewards of his hard work."
It's easy to see the connection given Blore and Leniu share familial traits.
Both have a short fuse and love winding up the opposition.
Blore famously went after ex-Parramatta forward Nathan Brown in his NRL debut but his promising trajectory was sidetracked by a second anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Leniu has loved seeing his cousin rediscover his love for the game and go to a new level at Melbourne but warned the pleasantries would be put to one side come Friday.
"There'll be love but on the field we're enemies, and I'll be looking forward to the challenge," Leniu said.
"I think COVID-19 sort of stuffed him up as well but knowing the person he is, someone who perseveres.
"Him and his family in general, just have so much resilience.
"I am so happy that he's up there with the Storm and playing so well."
