From under-7s to State of Origin, the paths of Cameron Murray and NSW State of Origin debutant Keaon Koloamatangi have always been intertwined.
The duo have been side by side throughout their rugby league careers, starting at the Mascot Jets as bucktoothed kids, then onto South Sydney and now the Blues.
The final game of the series is a dead rubber and NSW fans would be forgiven for tuning out of Game III following the Blues' series from hell.
But the game will mean an immense deal for Murray, who takes great pride in seeing Koloamatangi join him in the NSW starting side at Accor Stadium next Wednesday.
"I'm stoked for Keaon. He keeps getting better every year, he was always a good player as a kid," Murray said.
"I don't think anyone would've foreseen him getting to the level he's at and I think he's only just getting started.
"I'm really proud of him. It's a credit to his attitude and the form that he's shown for the last couple of years at the top level."
Murray's path to this level - Wednesday's game will be his 13th Blues appearance - was straightforward.
Courted by both rugby codes, the 25-year-old Souths lock is no doubt a potential NSW and Australia captain of the future.
Koloamatangi's journey hasn't been as simple, his career was in doubt when he struggled to overcome a shoulder injury in the years he was watching his mate Murray star as an NRL rookie.
"It could've been really easy for him to fall off the bandwagon there and use that as an excuse," Murray said.
"But that difference I've seen there and the change in his attitude, how hungry he was to turn up every day and fight hard and train really hard through that rehab block, I think that set him up for the future that he's creating for himself now."
Slowly but surely Koloamatangi has developed into one of the most destructive and silky-skilled edge forwards in the game.
Blues coach Brad Fittler might be wondering what might have been had he picked the blockbusting Tongan earlier in the series.
For all the talk of NSW handing jerseys out for the final game of the series, Murray is confident next Wednesday's game won't be Koloamatangi's last.
"I know he's ready to go out there to play his best and prove that he deserves to be out there," Murray added.
"I know he's going to do a good job for us.
"I've seen a really dedicated and committed attitude and he's continued to show why he's up there with some of the elites."
