Bulldogs rookie Jack Todd has opened up on the emotional and physical rollercoaster he endured in the 12 months leading up to Saturday night's NRL debut.
The 22-year-old was on track to feature in first grade in 2024 before injuries struck, breaking both arms in the space of a couple of months.
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Xerri Shines in the Shire
The injuries limited Todd to just 11 games in NSW Cup and he seemingly fell down the pecking order in a highly competitive crop of emerging Bulldogs forward.
That all changed on Saturday when the youngster made his NRL debut in Canterbury's win over the Sharks and Todd said last year's struggles made the experience even sweeter.
"It was tough," Todd said. "I was getting close to debuting [before getting injured] and thought 'maybe it's not going to happen anymore'.
"I felt like I had to start all over again. I was so close and then had to go back to square one and try to work my way back up to make my debut.
Everyone at the Club's been good. All the coaching staff and the boys made it easier once I came into pre-season this year.
Todd grew up on his parents' cattle farm near the tiny northern NSW town of Dungowan before moving to Sydney as a 17-year-old to join the Bulldogs pathways system in 2019.
From there, he progressed to NSW Cup and was knocking on the door of first-grade 12 months ago.
Having overcome two broken arms, Todd impressed throughout the Pre-Season Challenge and eventually played his way into the NRL. Having played one game, the goal quickly turned to adding a second in Sunday's clash with the Knights.
Captain Stephen Crichton has been impressed with the lock's resilience and expects Saturday's match to be the first of many in the top flight.
"He's very quiet, he lets his actions do the talking," Crichton said.
"It was very special to meet his family, he had humble beginnings as a country boy.
He's one of the examples of the system we're building at the Club, what [Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo and General Manager of Football Phil Gould] are doing.
"They're providing the younger boys the chance to come through the system and when they're ready, they're ready."
Todd's family travelled nearly eight hours to Sharks Stadium to watch the emerging lock in action, triggering chaotic scenes in the ground's north-western corner after the match.
While he's lived in Sydney since 2019, Todd's country roots were clear as he celebrated in an Akubra on Saturday night.
Life on the farm, he feels, provided the perfect springboard to a career in the NRL.
[My family] are still on the farm in northern NSW," Todd said.
"It was awesome growing up there. I loved it, riding horses, chasing cattle. It's awesome to get back there wherever I can."
