Sandon Smith has always had a knack for the big moment.
But even the Newcastle Knights halfback may struggle to explain just how perfectly his footballing journey has prepared him for the biggest game of his life.
With the Knights trailing Penrith to start the second half in Sunday's preliminary final, Smith produced the first of two moments that would ultimately send Newcastle into the NRL Grand Final.
The Knights were awarded a penalty in the middle of the field and rather than kicking the ball into touch, he asked for permission to take a quick tap.
The decision caught the Panthers off guard, with Smith sparking a passage of play that put Newcastle back in front by two points.
It was a risk, but one that came naturally to a player whose footballing foundations were built playing touch football on the Central Coast.
“I asked him straight up can I do a quick tap and he said yeah so I tapped it and he gave me permission," Smith said after the Knights win.
“I've always got a bit of the touch footy. You learn a lot from that game and was happy for it to pay off today.”
But Smith was not finished.
With Penrith firing on Newcastle's line and threatening to steal the game back in the dying seconds, the 23-year-old produced an even bigger moment.
Smith read the Panthers' attack, intercepted the ball and raced away to score the try that prevented a Penrith last minute win and sent the Knights into the Grand Final.
It was the sort of moment that can define a career, and Smith admitted he was not even certain he would make it to the line.
“Yeah, the last one I didn't know if I would make it either my little legs were hanging on for dear life," Smith smiled.
“It's (intercepts) always in the kick bag; I have been lucky enough to get a couple now.”
The intercept may have come on the biggest stage of his career, but the ability to produce such a moment has been in Smith's game for years.
Six years ago, while still in Year 12 at St Edward's College, Smith produced an astonishingly similar match-winning play against Farrer Boys in the Schoolboys Cup.
With Farrer ahead and attacking on their line, he came up with a game changing play.
When the opportunity presented itself, Smith backed himself.
That competitive drive has followed him from his schoolboy days on the Central Coast into the NRL, with the foundations laid even earlier through his time playing touch football for the Peninsula Piranhas.
Quick taps and playing to the whistle are key aspects of the sport, lessons that Smith believes have helped shape the player he is today.
And on Sunday, those lessons helped him make the kind of split-second decision that changed the course of a preliminary final.
Smith's ability to embrace those moments has now taken him all the way to the NRL Grand Final.
It is a remarkable journey for the Central Coast product, who will now play the biggest game of his career alongside fellow Coastie and former schoolmate Bradman Best.
The pair grew up in the same region, attended the same school and are now just one win away from bringing a premiership back to Newcastle.
“I love the Coast, I love my family, I love Newcastle, it's like a second home," Smith said.
“It's hard to put into words. I saw my family before and there was just so much emotion going on, I think a few tears come out.
“I think it's just such a Newcastle win and you know you're happy to be a part of it because no one in that shed wants to let each other down. We're all such good mates and when you bring that together it's pretty powerful.”
And now, Smith's fairytale has another twist.
Standing between the Knights and a first premiership since 2001 is the club where his professional journey began, the Sydney Roosters.
Smith progressed through the Roosters' junior system before making his NRL debut for the club, but the arrival of Daly Cherry-Evans left his future uncertain, with Hugo Savala also in the mix for a halves position.
His eventual departure led him to Newcastle, where he was reunited with Justin Holbrook, who had previously been an assistant coach at the Roosters.
Now they will face their former club on the biggest stage of all.
But the halfback insists his history with the Roosters will not change his approach.
“They were transparent with me. I've got remorse for the club, I love the club and I loved my time there but I am a Knight now and I'm so happy to be part of this squad and this group," Smith shared.
“He's one of the best halfbacks. Over the past 15 years I've watched him and over this year he's been awesome for the Roosters so I will have to shut him down next week.”
“It won't change anything for me (going up against the Roosters).”
“It's just another team.”
From the Central Coast to Newcastle and from the Roosters' junior system to an NRL Grand Final, Smith's journey has been shaped by the places, coaches and footballing lessons that came before him.
On Sunday, he showed exactly why those foundations matter.
First, he trusted his touch-football instincts to put Newcastle in front.
Then, with Penrith on the verge of scoring, he trusted his instincts again.
Two moments. Two decisions. One Grand Final.
Sandon Smith has spent years building towards the biggest moments in his career.
Now he has one left to conquer.
