The moment Jamal Fogarty announced his departure from Canberra to join Manly was filled with trepidation, especially regarding his conversation with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
"I didn't know if he was going to try and fight me in his office or if he was going to give me a cuddle," Fogarty shared with AAP.
Fortunately, Stuart expressed his support: "Thankfully he said he was happy for me."
This Saturday, Fogarty will reunite with Stuart post-game after participating in the Sea Eagles' season opener against the Green Machine at 4Pines Park.
The 32-year-old holds a deep admiration for the Canberra coach, who played a crucial role in revitalizing his career after Gold Coast deemed him surplus to requirements in 2021.
"I was considering going to Super League post Titans and part of it was I could only negotiate with the Raiders," Fogarty revealed.
"I was kind of pushed in that direction and had no other (NRL) option."
"It's worked out great for me ... I have to give a lot of credit to the Raiders for the development they gave me and the confidence in my game, especially the coaching staff and players down there."
While in Canberra, Fogarty contributed to a significant 64% win rate for the team, helped them reach the finals in three out of four seasons, and was part of last year's minor premiership victory.