When NZ Warriors recruit Aaron Pene was left stranded, after the team relocated to Brisbane, a veteran of the side showed his leadership and stepped up to help him out.
Recently appointed captain Tohu Harris and his family took him in, when Pene had nowhere to turn.
"I've stayed with Tohu since I got here, so I guess we've gotten quite close," Pene tells Newshub.
"I respect who he is. He's just helped me out with a lot of things, so I can't thank him enough."
After finishing his second NRL season with Melbourne Storm, the 26-year-old hoped to return home to Sydney to spend the off-season with his family, but COVID-19 intervened.
"[The club] advised that it would rather [I not travel], because of the borders," he says. "I could get stuck there.
"So, I just went straight to the Gold Coast, because that's where they were during the off-season."
A large group of players and staff stayed at their Gold Coast base, until they relocated to Brisbane, making for a perfect temporary home for Pene.
"After the GC, everyone split up and I didn't really have a place to stay. Tohu offered for me to stay there and I've been there ever since.
"I'm really grateful that he took me in, because it would have been really tough, if I had to stay by myself.
"[Harris] and his family are beautiful, and they're looking after me. I think that's what allowed me to get the best out of myself leading into the new year."
Pene hasn't seen his own family in a year, something he admits has recently taken its toll
With the first block of pre-season coming to a close, he looks forward to finally reuniting with them over the break.
"It's tough not going home to be honest. I was really looking forward to going home, I haven't seen them since before Christmas."
"People see the running and all the hard work, but mentally and emotionally, it's draining… anyone will tell you that. Going home will be really beneficial for my mental and emotional health.
"I'll come back refreshed ready for that second block."
On the field, the prop relishes his first pre-season under coach Nathan Brown, reporting for duty on day one.
After learning the ropes under Storm master coach Craig Bellamy, he brings Melbourne's famed culture and work ethic with him to the Warriors.
"[Bellamy] always said you can’t have a good season, without having first a good pre-season," Pene recalls.
"That's the mentality that I've brought myself over here and I’ve sort of voiced. That's what we’re doing."
He's also adopted the Storm's mantra of 'you can't achieve, if you don't believe'.
Pene turned a few heads recently, when he said the Warriors have the makings of a top-four side, and while he's sticking by the claim, he admits actions need to back up the words.
"I said that because I believe it," Pene says, with the courage of his conviction.
"If we truly believe that we can do something, then you obviously have to earn the right to do something, and to do that, we need to work hard in the pre-season, and be accountable and honest.
"Having had a really successful two years with Melbourne, it all starts with belief."
