Harry Siejka was one of the most talked about young players in the country when he signed what was a record deal with the Penrith Panthers in 2008.
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But there was someone even younger than the Bathurst Panthers junior who caught the eye while hanging around Penrith training roughly a decade ago.
"Nathan Cleary was only young then and he'd play basketball with us," Siejka said with a laugh.
"He was only a string bean then but he's killing it now."
Siejka was a Western kid at Penrith before the Western kids were at Penrith.
He was spotted at Bathurst, along with his brother Stirling, by the Panthers and it wasn't long after he was signing a three-year, $75,000-a-season deal which was a record for a 16-year-old at the time.
That was prior to the famed partnership between the Panthers and Western Rams was formed but Siejka made his NRL debut in 2011 after one season in the club's under 20s squad.
Cleary would later be sacked by Panthers general manager Phil Gould in a bombshell moment in 2015 but since returning to the club before the 2019 he has turned his side into a premiership force which heads into this weekend's decider against Melbourne having won its past 17 straight games.
The results don't come as a shock for Siejka, as Cleary had left an impression on the playmaker during their one season together.
"I had only ever worked with Matt Elliott but he (Cleary) was an awesome coach," Siejka said,
"It probably helped he'd been a player and been to a grand final. He really understood players and got the best out of them.
"He didn't dance around things and he'd let you know if you stuffed up and he helped me a lot.
"I don't really know what happened with the sacking but it worked out for the best and he's probably a better coach for it."
Siejka would only play the four NRL games for the Panthers and wouldn't feature in the top grade again despite having stints with both the New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons.
He enjoyed time in England with Wakefield, Featherstone, and the Bradford Bulls in 2014 and 2015 and after time living in Sydney he made the move back to Group 10 earlier this year when he linked with the Mudgee Dragons.
And while the initial move from the country to Penrith wasn't as smooth as it is for juniors these days, Siejka remains content after playing at the highest level for the club he'd always supported.
"I had a good time there," he said.
"I was put into a school there and I made good mates and I liked what I did.
"If I had my time again I probably would stay in the bush and finish school and maybe play a bit of first grade here before going down but it all worked out."
Siejka is now backing the Panthers to get the job done against Melbourne on Sunday night.
"I think they'll win. I'm not sure how a side that's won 17 straight games can't be favourites," he said.
"Melbourne played a tired Canberra last week and Penrith cruised.
"I think they'll beat Melbourne. They might be young but they've always won and played together in juniors."
