TIME flies, they say, when you're having fun.
Tyson Frizell reckons it doesn't seem that long ago he was a young kid in high school, wondering what he was going to do with the rest of his life, while dreaming a very big dream.
"I got to a stage in about year 11 or 12 when I thought I'd leave school and get a trade, but my folks suggested I stay in school and give footy a crack for a year or two," he told the Newcastle Herald.
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"I guess they knew I wanted to play footy for a living and gave me the drive to chase it.
"If it wasn't for them, I'd probably be on the tools or something."
Frizell recalls that by about 16, he started to believe he had some ability. Then in 2009 he was chosen in the Australian Schoolboys and his big dream started to transform into a reality.
He knocked back an offer to join the NSW Waratahs' rugby union academy to sign with the Cronulla Sharks, thinking that eventually he would switch back to the 15-man code.
His younger brother, Shannon, has represented the All Blacks in 17 Tests, including at the 2019 World Cup.
But Tyson just kept climbing the rungs in rugby league.
At the age of 19, he was promoted for his NRL debut. Four seasons later, the Corrimal Cougars junior was chosen for NSW Country, then a year later he made his State of Origin debut for NSW.
He has since played in 14 Origins, 14 Tests for Australia, five Tests for Wales and, after stints with Cronulla and St George Illawarra, will rack up his 200th NRL game on Friday night when he runs out for the Newcastle Knights against his original club at his former home ground.
"Looking back now, I've been very lucky to have continued my career for so long," Frizell said.
"Not many people get to do what I do for a living. A lot of people dream to be able to do it. I'll probably look back on it post-game.
"Once the game is finished I'll probably look back and think about how far I've come and the people who have helped me. But yeah, it is a nice milestone."
Frizell has fond memories of Shark Park and remains grateful to Cronulla for offering him his start 11 years ago.
"Cronulla played a big part in my career," he said. "I spent three years there and started my journey with them, and I'm very thankful for the opportunity they gave me to live my dream."
Frizell said playing professional football has "been a big chunk of my life" that has also flown past.
But he is also confident the best is yet to come.
Now 30, there would be few fitter forwards than the explosive back-rower, who joined Newcastle at the start of last season after signing a three-year contract.
Asked how much longer he thinks he can continue in such a brutal collision sport, Frizell would not rule out playing at 35 or even beyond.
"I guess you never know what is around the corner, but I think I've got a few years left in me yet," he said.
"As I get older, I probably pay more attention to looking after myself than I did back in the day, and our performance staff certainly help a lot with that."
As for life after football, he is still weighing up his options. For the time being, preparing himself for battle each week requires a "head-down, arse-up" mentality.
"There's no certainty about where life is going to take you after footy," he said.
"I'm looking forward to that, once I've done everything in the game that I want to. But while I'm still playing, I'm just going to keep giving it 100 per cent."
The one box that remains unticked is a grand final triumph, but he remains confident good things come to those who wait.
"The older you get, the more you want it," he said.
"Every footy player is in the same position, and I'm no different. I'll be working hard to help this team achieve that goal."
