The six-inch scar on the arm of Parramatta wrecking ball Manu Ma'u is a reminder he has to make up for lost time.
The 26-year-old is preparing for his second coming after having his breakout 2014 NRL season cut short by a broken arm.
The scar is a remnant of the surgery he had to repair the injury he suffered against the Bulldogs in June last year.
While you would think it hard to make him a more intimidating presence, the scar serves that purpose.
A 103kg ball of muscle, he is stocky at 184cm, blessed with a low centre of gravity and during his 13 games of first grade last year the 26-year-old hit man quickly earned a reputation for jamming opponents.
His arms and neck are dominated by tattoos and in a former life he was an Auckland street gang member who fell in with the wrong crowd, abused alcohol and spent three years in jail for his part in a vicious brawl.
However those facts are belied by his seemingly gentle nature - he speaks in hushed tones and is shy to a fault. His eyes light up when he talks about his children Lino, 2, and Levi, 1, whose names he writes on the strapping around his wrists before every game.
He is the quintessential rugby league redemption story and is itching to write the next chapter.
"This is my second year coming into it now," he said.
"I know what my strengths are, I know what I need to work on. Hopefully there's heaps more footy out there for me this year ... I was pretty surprised with how I went last year.
"I was just keen to get out there and prove a point."
Ma'u will play with a guard on his left arm for the rest of his career.
And after sitting on the sidelines for nearly nine months, he says he is itching for the side's season opener against Manly on March 6.
He began running in September and with a long pre-season under his belt, he has put on a few kilograms of muscle and is fitter than he has ever been.
Ma'u made his return at the Auckland Nines before starting in the Eels' trial win over Penrith on the weekend and looks set to form an intimidating back-row partnership with fellow hard-hitter Tepai Moeroa.
"I just want to make sure I'm on the team and playing for that jersey," he said.
"I want to play to the best of my ability."
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