As one of the few NZ Warriors players to have actually run out for the club at Mt Smart Stadium, Chanel Harris-Tavita knows more than most just how special Sunday's homecoming will be.
The five games at their spiritual home this season will carry extra meaning for the 23-year-old, as he prepares to walk away from the game to start the next chapter of his life.
"Now that there's an end date, I'm appreciating the little moments a bit more," he told Newshub.
"I know that you can't play footy forever and I've actually decided to cut my career short.
"It's time for me to try something new, I'm willing to put my best foot forward for the club and the team.
"I'm going to keep doing that until the end of this season and hopefully finish off on a high."
The talented halfback, who came through the club's junior system, rejected a contract extension to pursue writing and traveling next year.
He admits the decision to leave the NRL is one that weighed on him heavily.
"I guess I was sitting on that decision for about a year. It went pretty fast, but still felt like it was taking a toll on me," he added.
"I finally opened up to one of our leaders, took him out for dinner and told him how I was feeling. I wasn't sure if I would sign for one more year, two years or re-sign at all."
The support of his Warriors teammates made the life-changing choice easier. They all backed him, told him to follow his gut and do what was best for him.
"I'm grateful to have a lot of people around me that are supportive. I feel [there was] a lot of expectations on myself to live a certain way or be a certain person but telling them how I really felt and them being there for me made it a lot easier."
So what's next?
Although he's not sure where he'll end up, Harris-Tavita has a passion for writing, after starting a journal and blog, while the NRL was on hold in 2020, but now he's had time to digest his decision, he can't wait.
"It's definitely sunk in how much money I'm going to have to save," he laughed. "Nah, I'm excited.
"I said it before, it feels like a weight's been lifted off my shoulders. I'm looking forward to what's next."
He was also concerned about the public response. It's not every day a young NRL star gives up a lucrative contract to chase something new, but the news was met with overwhelming positivity.
"I thought there would be a lot more people saying 'what are you doing, you're taking it for granted'.
"There's so many other people that want to do what you're doing, but at the end of the day, I've got expectations I need to meet of myself and that's just to be happy.
"Deep down, I knew signing another contract wouldn't be the right decision for me.
"It opens up another opportunity for young fellas like Ronald [Volkman] and other young halves that are coming through.
"I feel much better about that."
Join Newshub for live updates of NZ Warriors v Wests Tigers from 4pm Sunday
