Siua Wong's parents were often deployed while he was growing up, making a Sydney Roosters premiership especially meaningful to the 23-year-old.
"They were all over the place - Iraq, Egypt, Afghanistan, East Timor. Mum was in signal communications and dad was in infantry. They were in peacekeeping so they didn't have too many scary experiences," Wong said.
His grandparents also helped care for him while his parents served overseas.
At 10, Wong watched the Roosters beat Manly in the 2013 NRL grand final, captivated by Sonny Bill Williams.
"I loved Sonny Bill Williams and I was watching that game just for him," Wong said.
That was the club's first of three titles under coach Trent Robinson, with winger Daniel Tupou scoring the opening try.
Tupou is set to face Newcastle on Sunday as the Roosters chase a fourth premiership under Robinson in 2026.
Wong will wear the No.12 jersey Williams wore in that grand final.
Born in New Zealand, Wong joined the Roosters' academy at 14 and has become one of its success stories.
This season, he has added regular 80-minute performances on the edges to his game and credits forwards coach Michael Cheika for helping the pack develop.
"He has brought a fresh perspective into how we prepare and how we play and that's helped develop the forward pack into what it is today," Wong said.