When the full-time siren rang out at Allianz Stadium on Saturday and Dylan Napa realised he hadn't cost the Sydney Roosters a grand final berth, the Tri-Colours enforcer was a whirlwind of emotions.
For the past month Napa has been forced to sit on the sidelines for an ugly shot on Andrew McCullough in which he led with his head.
He was suspended for three weeks for the incident which led to calls for him to change his tackling technique, having also connected with Korbin Sims in similar fashion earlier in the year.
Asked about the tackle, and the feeling of not being able to contribute during the Roosters' finals games to date, Napa said: "I didn't feel guilty because I feel like I've given my all to this team every time I've played.
"It's a funny feeling but I'm just really excited that I've been given the opportunity to play."
Without the Queensland prop in their engine room, the Roosters beat Cronulla and South Sydney to win through to Sunday's grand final against Melbourne.
The match will be Napa's first in a little over five weeks.
On game days, he was subjected to a brutal assault bike circuit in the gym by the Roosters training staff, leading him to insist he'll be primed to go against the Storm.
"When you spend a few weeks on the sideline with suspension you usually get flogged in the gym," Napa said.
Being forced to watch on as his side battled to keep their premiership dream alive was a difficult experience for the 26-year-old.
He said he never wavered in his belief that his teammates could get the job done without him.
"I had so much faith in our team to get here," Napa said.
"It's really rewarding to be here at the end of the year.
"I was just really proud of our team and what we've achieved getting into the grand final.
"Make no mistakes, we're not going out there (to be runners up), we want to win it.
"It's been our goal. We're going to finish off the year."
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