Jillaroos prop Sarah Togatuki has credited early tutelage from NRL stars Stephen Crichton and Brian To'o for helping push her towards her Test debut.
Togatuki is in line to earn her maiden Test cap for Australia on Friday night against Papua New Guinea in Brisbane, after five years as a NSW State of Origin representative.
A St Marys junior from Sydney's west, Togatuki grew up alongside Crichton's brother Christian and trained with several of the local Penrith NRL players.
She has since become a star in her own right, as the Wests Tigers' best prop this season and the Karyn Murphy Medal winner in the Sydney Roosters' grand-final win in 2021.
"I give credit to Critta (Critchton) and Bizza (To'o), I say this from time to time, before NRLW came out those boys were holding a couple of free sessions," Togatuki said.
"That was just back when they were just rookies (themselves) at Penrith.
"They were holding clinics, pre-season sessions and I happened to go to some of them.
"Man, that was an eye-opening experience for me and that's what really helped me excel in coming into the NRLW. I owe those boys a lot. We still stay in touch."
The 27-year-old Togatuki also played football with To'o's wife Moesha when she first arrived from New Zealand, while Crichton's sister Harmony is also contracted to the Tigers.
"She (Harmony) is another talent, she is so similar to Stephen and how she plays," Togatuki said.
"I just know when she comes back she is going to do so much with herself.
"(Moesha)'s actually a gun. I know she has a baby now ... but she was just a weapon.
"I haven't seen her since, but she could probably put the boots back on. If Bizza put some (training) sessions on for her, I have no doubt she'd skill it."
One of the NRLW's best props, Togatuki has been forced to bide her time to make her Test debut.
Born in Australia but to New Zealand parents, she knocked back an approach to play for the Kiwi Ferns in the 2022 World Cup in order to prioritise Origin and a potential Jillaroos debut.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet, it's unreal being around the girls," Togatuki said.
"Some of the girls I used to look up to, I still do. I pinch myself. It's like I am in a dream. It's unreal the feeling.
"Just the culture, it's been beautiful coming in and feeling welcome. I know it's something they've tried to embed in the Jillaroos' DNA.
"You see it from the outside, but to be on the inside of it all I feel very blessed and honoured."
