Not long ago, Francis Manuleleua was mowing lawns outside Penrith's centre of excellence; now he is preparing for an NRL grand final.
The 22-year-old and 21-year-old Jermaine McEwen have become central to Newcastle's run to Sunday's match against the Sydney Roosters.
Manuleleua has played 14 NRL games; McEwen has 39 first-grade appearances.
In the preliminary-final win over Penrith, Manuleleua scored the opening try and stopped Brian To'o with a try-saver; McEwen barked at Moses Leota.
McEwen rejected a recycled nickname: "We don't want to be called the Bash Brothers, because that's already taken, we've got to figure something out," he said.
Manuleleua settled on another option: "The Bruise Crew, I like that one," he said.
He said, "But when it comes to training and game day, we flick that switch and we're just ready to bang."
McEwen hopes the roommates will line up together for Samoa at the World Cup.