Midfielder Daniel Rona's impressive stint with the Chiefs has earned him a freshly minted three-year contract with the Super Rugby franchise.
It's a far cry from the start of the year, where he mixed the pursuit of his dream with 4am starts mixing concrete in Taranaki.
"It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid to play Super Rugby, so now that it’s happened it's pretty cool," Rona told Newshub.
Rona was called into the Chiefs squad during pre-season as an injury replacement, unsure where the opportunity would lead him.
Scoring tries for the competition leaders is a long way from being on the tools with his mates in Taranaki.
"Can't be more proud of him," said Trent Pickering, Rona's friend and workmate.
"From having run-it-straights on the beers in the backyard to watching him on TV - it's good."
And his now former workmates will have plenty of time to do that, after the 22-year-old's strong play rewarded with a permanent deal through until the end of 2026.
"I suppose if he can do it then anyone can, I’ve taught him most of the things he knows," Pickering added.
And while Rona's thrilled to have his dream come true, he admits he'll miss the everyday banter on the building site.
"I'll miss going to work with the boys though," he confessed. "We've got a good crew down there. That's probably what I'll miss the most.
"But definitely not the 4am starts, that's for sure."
Of course, his mates aren't letting him off without some due freebies.
"We want corporate boxes, endless beers and food."
Watch the full story above
