He started at the Essential Coffee Burleigh Bears in Under 8s looking up to Intrust Super Cup players - now Josh Berkers is one of those players young Bears can look up to.
Besides his time playing for the Gold Coast Titans NYC team, Josh has always been a Bear from the time he joined the club as a young child.
Now, 22-year-old Berkers is a regular face playing Intrust Super Cup as the Bears prepare for semi-finals.
"It means a lot," he said of playing Cup.
"Growing up you always see the top players around the club and look up to them and now the role is reversed a bit. I try to be a good role model and help the young kids out.
"I didn't think maybe I would be one of those guys, but it was definitely a goal of mine, especially when I was playing Colts and that sort of thing. I definitely looked up to Cup guys."
Josh made his debut in 2016 when he was just 20-years-old and has been a regular in the Bears side over the last two months.
He has hit his stride in recent weeks, averaging 112 running metres per game and making 13 tackle breaks in his last three appearances while playing at right-centre.
On Saturday, the Bears host the Townsville Blackhawks in what shapes as a massive showdown.
With only two games remaining in the regular season the Bears and Blackhawks are in equal second place.
Not only will the winner of Saturday's game take a giant step towards a top-two finish, but the game will be played in front of a collection of former Bears as they gather for the annual Old Boys Day.
All former Bears players, staff and supporters are invited to attend, with a special focus on teams from the years 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2008.
It's a special day on the calendar for the club and Berkers said the significance of the day as well as the importance of the result to their final ladder position is not lost on the playing group.
"Jimmy (Lenihan – coach) has put a lot of, not pressure, but importance on this game," he said.
"Townsville are a top three side and being Old Boys Day, it's a big occasion for us. We were a bit flat last week, but we're going to be up for this week and it's an important game."
Berkers said that the focus will be on bringing energy and physicality to their defence.
"(Jimmy) just wants us to frontload our energy in defence," he said. "Our attack and everything will come off the back of our efforts in defence and all the little things that most people don't notice.
"It's about not saving ourselves in defence. Bring aggression and whatever else we need to worry about with our defence before worrying about scoring tries."
Essential Coffee Burleigh Bears vs Townsville Blackhawks; Saturday August 18, Pizzey Park at 4.15pm
Full team lists and match details via QRL Live.
