Marata Niukore's relationship with Brad Arthur runs deeper than a standard player-coach connection.
For Niukore, the Parramatta mentor is a trusted mate and often a babysitter.
It's what made telling Arthur that he'd decided to leave the Eels in 2023 to return home to New Zealand on a four-year deal with the Warriors all the more difficult.
"We've got a unique relationship where I can rely on him and go to him whenever I need," Niukore, 25, told AAP.
"That call (in November) wasn't the one I wanted to make. I felt I let him down a bit by making that decision, but we've gotten over it and started a new year fresh and ready to go."
With Niukore's close kin and that of his partner Nikki in Auckland, Arthur's support has been appreciated.
"He's more than the coach to me personally," the back-rower said.
"He always puts his hand up and is the first one to take my kids whenever I need a hand with that.
"His door's always open for me to have honest conversations about my footy."
Niukore had envisioned being a one-club man, having recorded 77 NRL matches since making his debut under Arthur in 2018, but family is his priority.
But before linking with the Warriors, for whom he played under-20s, Niukore believes Parramatta are well-placed to break their 36-year premiership drought.
Last season's agonising 8-6 semi-final defeat to premiers Penrith could be the turning point.
"To think that Penrith took it out and we took them right down to the wire, it's (instilled) confidence heading into this year," Niukore said.
"Nothing is going to change in terms of that confidence."
A maiden New Zealand Test call-up looms for the Cook Islands representative with a World Cup at year's end.
"To think that I'm in the frame for the Kiwis is something that I've always looked up to and something that I want to achieve," he said.
