Plenty has happened in Cheyse Blair's life since he last took the field for Melbourne.
The arrival of a second child has kept the centre busy after he injured his ankle against the Eels in round 18 last year.
On Sunday he made his Telstra Premiership return against the Broncos, with another addition to his family: a seven-week-old boy named Charlie.
His kids (oldest son Billy was already on the scene), plus his partner Tammy have kept Blair upbeat through his stint on the sidelines.
"You do a lot for them, but it's hard to come in every day [and not train with the NRL squad]," the 26-year-old told NRL.com.
"That's part of footy. But my missus and kids, they are probably the reason I wanted to keep turning up."
Blair has watched as the likes of Curtis Scott, Will Chambers and Young Tonumaipea take his place in the centres. Watching the Storm win the 2017 grand final was bittersweet as well.
"The boys have gone so well, and obviously winning the competition," he said.
"You ride that wave as well, disappointed I wasn't in that, but that's footy - especially [after] losing the year before."
Match Highlights: Storm v Broncos - Round 14, 2018
But Blair has worked his way back, initially via the Intrust Super Cup with Easts Tigers.
"It's awesome," he said of wearing Storm colours again.
"I expected to go back up there (Easts Tigers), earn my spot. In saying that, I've had a year out of the game, so I need to get my body back into playing week in and week out, as well as training every day, so I can perform at my best."
Blair had limited opportunities to impress in attack on Sunday in the win over the Broncos, but still managed 102 running metres in an 80-minute effort.
"It was good," he said.
"I was worried about how my lungs would go, but there were a few stoppages and a few drop balls, and they scored a few early when the game was at its fastest. But my lungs held on and my body held up."
His goals for the rest of the year? More of the same as he looks to string some more games together for the first-grade side.
A three-way battle for the centres looms, with Scott and Chambers the first-choice duo. But Blair is enjoying his long-awaiting moment back in purple.
