Tony Pellow admits there were "a few teary eyes".
The fullback and his Entrance teammates sitting around the dressing sheds before a crucial last-round fixture, listening to the motivational words of an injured friend most affectionately known by nickname Yak.
Twelve months earlier Jacek McLaurin had been wearing the same orange and black jersey, playing against the same NEWRL opponents and running out at the same venue. Season also on the line.
But life has since changed dramatically for McLaurin, who suffered spinal damage during a Queensland Cup trial in February.
The former Tigers outside back, who originally hails from the Illawarra region, underwent multiple surgeries and remains in a wheelchair without feeling from his shoulders down.
McLaurin shared a video on social media this week showing his trip to the other side of the world, currently in Serbia amid stem cell treatment.
Back home, and from the incident onwards, McLaurin has never been far from the thoughts of The Entrance. Both on and off the field.
A pre-season nines crown was dedicated to him soon afterwards, specially-made fundraising socks worn and, most recently, that speech.
"Yak was a massive part of our club last year," Pellow told the Newcastle Herald.
"I'm very good mates with him and I'm the one who actually got him to The Entrance last year.
"He played a massive part, just his personality brought a lot of people to life.
"Obviously we've got him on our jersey and we played for him on the weekend.
"He actually gave us a five-minute motivational speech before we played on the weekend.
"We put that over the speaker before we ran out, there were a few teary eyes there.
"We continue to play for him and carry him with us."
Entrance, on the back of that thrilling 22-18 victory, finished fourth on the Newcastle Rugby League ladder and now host fifth-ranked Kurri Kurri at EDSACC Oval on Sunday (3pm).
The Central Coast club have now featured in play-offs from 2023 onwards, but Pellow reckons this year feels different.
"That's four years in a row now for Entrance, hopefully we can go deep this year," he said.
"To be honest I don't think we're limping into finals this year, we've got our strongest 17 on the field and probably have for the last month.
"Normally the spine has changed or an edge back-rower goes down, just injuries in critical positions over the last three years since I've been there.
"None of that this year, so hopefully it can stay like that and we can be there in September."
The Entrance didn't beat Kurri Kurri during the regular rounds, playing out a 12-all draw before going down 14-12 on July 18.
The Bulldogs, hoping to turnaround back-to-back losses, last qualified for the top five in 2018.
South Newcastle (2nd) and Central Newcastle (3rd) clash in Saturday's qualifying semi at Townson Oval while minor premiers Maitland have the weekend off.
The Lions are also celebrating a NEWRL club championship, which they last claimed in 2016 and ends a stretch of recent Maitland dominance.
