The last time Ben Hunt ditched a rugby league camp it did not end well.
But the playmaker had a pretty good excuse when he asked coach Mal Meninga if he could skip Kangaroos duty on November 3 - he is getting married.
Hunt has come a long way since being slapped with a 12-month State of Origin ban for breaking curfew at the 2016 Emerging Maroons camp.
He capped a rollercoaster year with selection in the Kangaroos' World Cup squad - much to his anxiety.
Hunt was so convinced he would not be considered by Meninga that he had booked his wedding with fiancee Bridget on the same day Australia play France in a Cup pool game.
After the elation of his Cup call-up, Hunt quickly realised his awkward predicament.
A quick chat with Meninga solved the conundrum.
He would be allowed to leave camp on November 1, tie the knot then return the Sunday after the France clash.
But there was no time for their planned honeymoon to Mexico.
Hunt wasn't complaining.
"Mal was very understanding," Hunt said.
"It was a bit of a tough one (wedding clash) because I didn't really expect this after playing Queensland Cup during the middle of the year.
"But Mal was really good. It's all worked out. He was happy for me to get married.
"No honeymoon but I reckon I am pretty lucky being in a Kangaroos camp."
Unfortunately Kangaroos teammates Josh McGuire and Matt Gillett - both invited to the wedding - will reportedly have to stay in camp and miss Hunt's big day.
McGuire will also miss his brother's wedding this weekend due to Australia's mini warm-up tournament in Fiji, also featuring PNG, on Saturday.
A Kangaroos call-up is another twist in Hunt's already unpredictable 2017.
The pint-sized player made his Queensland State of Origin debut this season despite at one stage being dumped to second tier Queensland Cup by Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett.
Hunt regrouped to help Brisbane make the NRL preliminary final, stepping in for injured hooker Andrew McCullough.
Now preparing to take up a lucrative five year deal with St George Illawarra from 2018, Hunt admitted it was a "strange feeling" saying goodbye to Brisbane at their recent club presentation night after nine years at Red Hill.
"It was a bit of a sad night but now I have to move on," Hunt said.
Hunt's fiancee is the niece of Kangaroos staff member Michael Hagan.
"I can't really explain it to be honest - it has been one of the weirdest years I have been a part of," Hunt laughed.
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