Rugby has taken Seva Rokobaro on a wild journey throughout his life - from the shores of Suva to the Hunter where he now calls home.
Making his debut for the Flying Fijians in 2004, the star lock went on to earn four caps, including facing Tonga and the All Blacks. Throw in a four year stint over in France, and extensive time in Sydney representing Shute Shield sides Gordon and the Two Blues, to stints in Subbies with St. Ives, the Drummoyne Dirty Reds and Hunters Hill, to name a few.
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However, the sport would take him somewhere unexpected when it came time to leave Sydney, with the star player originally planning to move down to Wollongong to give his young family a more relaxed environment to grow up in.
His partner, however, had other ideas.
"Before moving out of Sydney, I wanted to go to Wollongong. That's the only place I'd been," Rokobaro told Rugby.com.au.
"My missus, she said, oh, I'm thinking Newcastle. I was like, here we go. It's a competition. She would find out how we get to Newcastle and I'll work out how we get to Wollongong. Whoever comes first, that is where we're going.
"Then the next day, came back after work, and she goes, oh, I've emailed Hamilton. I didn't know that they played rugby in Newcastle."
The Hamilton in question was the Hamilton Hawks Rugby Club - who at the time were sitting near the top of the table and would go on to win the premiership later that year.
Rokobaro was initially hesitant to make the move; Newcastle was seen as a rugby league city, and he was expecting he'd have to pick up the 13-man code.
However, the form of the Hawks convinced him to give it a try - and within a few weeks, he'd played his last game for the Two Blues and was strapping on his boots for blue and gold jersey.
Ten years later and multiple premierships under his belt (Hamilton would go on to win the premiership five years running after 2015), Rokobaro has become a highly regarded figure in the Hunter rugby community.
While also playing for Merewether-Carlton and enjoying a stint in the Hunter Wildfires upon their admission to the Shute Shield, the 47-year-old would always find his way back to Passmore Oval - earning his 100th grade appearance for the club in 2024.
"It was very old school," Rokobaro said of the Hunter competition.
"Gordon and Norths have, before this semi-pro era, you still have that hate, you know? [Newcastle] still has that. When I came in 2015, the level was pretty competitive, everyone was kind of on par.
"That is what I felt. I just fell in love with the game again. Because it was old school. It was the environment that I am comfortable in. One of the main reasons why I kept playing is just because, I started off playing community rugby and I want to finish off playing community rugby."
It wasn't just the rugby that surprised the Fijian star - with the city itself also surpassing his expectations.
"I just feel at home," Rokobaro explained.
"I don't really know how to explain it. I just feel like home when I come to Newcastle, which was surprising, actually. The people are so nice, you know? The simple life that Novocastrians lead, it is so good."
Even in the years since Rokobaro moved up, the community has expanded enormously in the Hunter - and it has culminated in younger players also learning their rugby in the Hunter, including for the Hawks.
Amongst the younger players are cousins Ratu Loloma and Elijah Drodrolagi, who now play together in the U14 boys side, while Elijah's sister Leilani Drodrolagi also plays for the U9 girls side.
"I've been playing a couple of years now, maybe four or five years," Ratu admitted.
"When I first started it was hard keeping up with everyone. But as I gradually started training, it's actually pretty easy once you get the hang of it. It's really fun.
"I just love my teammates and how we communicate together. And all of us teams just playing together. It's a fun little community to have.
"I do watch a bit of NRL, and go for the Roosters, they are pretty good. But in union, I do go for the Drua team. I do love the Flying Fijians, they are one of my favourites.
"I'm really bad at remembering the names. But honestly, my favourite player is my cousin, Eli."
For Elijah, getting involved in rugby at Hamilton was not just a chance to have fun, but also following in their footsteps of other family members.
"We both started together," said Eli.
"For rugby, my cousin Ratu is my favourite - but if we're going like union, big-league wise, he doesn't play any more but Joe Rokocoko for the All Blacks."
"He's actually related to him," Ratu added.
"Yeah, we're both related!" Eli laughed.
Leilani has had an even closer taste with some of the big stars - since taking up the sport four years ago, she has had the chance to be a player mascot for the Wallaroos - and has walked out with the Black Ferns when the two sides met earlier this year in Newcastle.
Her connection to the Drua team also runs in the family, with one of her cousins playing as lock in the side.
"His name Mesake Vocevoce, he's my cousin," Leilani says.
"He inspires me because he trains on the field hard, and he's my cousin from my mum's side.
"That means rugby is in her blood and I might be as good, just like him."
The growth of the Pasifika community in the Hunter has even surprised Rokobaro - having noticed the growing number of young Fijians playing for the Hawks.
"Last year there was a Fijian little girl who came up - I think we were playing Wanderers," Rokobaro laughed.
"One Sunday, she came running, and then she told all of her teammates that we're cousins, and I was like, OK, yes we are. I guess we are."
The growth of the Fijian game has been one of the joys of the last few years for Rokobaro - with the pressure that comes with playing classic Fijian rugby marrying with the need for a professional program with the Drua.
"Back in the days, we just did it because we wanted to play for our country," Rokobaro admitted.
"We just wanted to represent our country. I'm very impressed with the Drua team after their second season, they made it to the finals, which is crazy.
"I think management, having to manage teams, manage organisations, I think that is what we need. That is what they're going through now, being educated in running a franchise.
"I don't want to sound arrogant here, but we're so talented. Back when I was playing, we didn't notice that. We were just playing because we love the game.
"Now, players are being educated; they realise that that talent can only take you so far, you know? You've actually got to put in the hard work, you know, to make it work.
"This year was a bit of a slump for us, but I think the boys are just getting used to playing consistent, good quality football. It's something different, most of them are not used to it, but now they're just sort of getting that feel of it and having to have that consistency, and the responsibility that comes with that, which is refreshing to see."
Time away from the game and the success of the Fijian sides as over the last few years has allowed Rokobaro to reflect on his own time playing in the famous white and black jersey - and what it means to have been able to play for Fiji.
"It was amazing. It's good to be selected. That feeling, I can't describe it," Rokobaro explains.
"When you're in that squad and game week comes around, you just think, I've got to do the job, do the work, this is where the hard work starts. Yeah. It just hits you.
"Once you get to a certain stage in your career, you look back and you think about all the tough times that you bust your backside, set yourself objectives, set yourself a goal, and then you get to the top.
"You're just thinking, man, that was a hell of a journey. Yeah. That was just one of the most satisfying feelings.
"Fiji's [future is] bright. You see the likes of Tevita Ikanivere, amazing player, very skillful - but then you can see he's put in the hard work as well on top of that, it's just amazing.
"You'll see a few more Ikaniveres and [Iosefo] Masis, more similar characters, which is exciting."
While Newcastle still holds that outside reputation as a rugby league city, that notion may be challenged when the Flying Fijians come to town on July 6th.
The Wallabies will be playing just their third match ever in the Steel City - and their first since 2020 as they finalise their preparations for the Lions. They are likely set for a record crowd at Hunter Stadium, likely beating the 20,088 who turned out in a torrential downpour to watch their infamous 9-8 loss to Scotland in 2012.
The match will be a special day for the likes of Ratu, Elijah and Leilani - with the Hamilton juniors admitting their hearts will be straddling both teams.
"I've got the Wallabies jersey and the Fiji flag," Ratu admitted.
"We all want to get the wigs. Either that, or wearing the Fiji T-shirt, but wearing the Aussie wig."
Joe Schmidt's men will have several demons to exorcise in this fixture - with the match marking the first time the sides have squared off since their 2023 World Cup pool clash, while also chasing a maiden historic win in Newcastle.
"[2023] was bittersweet for me because Australia has always been my second favourite team," Rokobaro conceded.
"I felt for the squad, the boys - they're very young.
"It's a test of character, you know? If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger.
"I think looking at that same squad, the Wallabies, looking at those players from that game that are still playing now, I think they're ten times better than what they were back then, which is good."
However, whatever demons the Wallabies will exorcise, they will have to go through Mick Byrne's side first.
Rokobaro himself will also be in attendance, and concedes Fiji will likely walk out to a friendly crowd - which bodes well for future Tests like these to be played more regularly in the Hunter.
"I reckon this would be their [Fiji's] home away from home, Newcastle," Rokobaro grinned.
"It's not dissimilar to Fiji: it's like Suva, the capital. There's no distractions, you can relax, and there's the beach there, there's Merewether Baths, Newcastle Beach and Nobbys.
"The feeling is just like home."
