Alex Johnston's love for rugby league began on the fields of South Sydney, wearing the La Perouse United jersey.
On Friday night, the Rabbitohs' winger became the greatest try scorer in NRL history, breaking the Irvine record and securing 213 career tries.
Today, on his home ground, the Saibai Island and Papua New Guinea man's history-making moment has been set in stone - with the unveiling of a bronze statue made in his image at the South Sydney Rabbitohs' Training Centre in Heffron Park, Maroubra.
It's the "cherry on the top" for the 31-year-old, who took the opportunity to make the crowd laugh.
"The majority of my footy career has been overwhelmingly positive, the support I've gotten along the way" he said.
"But, there's been a few fans that have shit on me. There's been a few coaches that have shit on me, the media have shit on me - and now the pigeons can shit on me."
The statue was unveiled by Johnston alongside Taryn and three children Sonny, Avery and Robbie, his mother Bernadette and father Jeff, and siblings Josiah and Gabriella.
Also in attendance were his Rabbitoh's teammates, chairman Nick Papas AM and CEO Blake Sully, Randwick Mayor Councillor Dylan Parker, Member for Heffron Ron Hoenig, La Perouse United representatives and family members of Ken Irvine and Nathan Merritt.
Staunch Rabbitohs supporter and local Bidjigal and Gweagal Elder, Aunty Barbara Simms-Keeley welcomed the crowd to her Country.
She acknowledged Johnston's "great heritage" and referenced his personal history, being a graduate and dux of Endeavour Sports High School and junior La Perouse Panther.
"Alex, you cemented your place, the greatest try-scorer in premiership history and you have certainly won the hearts of hundreds, if not thousands of people," she said.
"I speak volumes of you, I've known your mother for a long, long time. You've made her so proud, and your dad so proud here today. You've made us proud not only as Rabbitohs fans, but our people too.
"What a great moment in history, and we have it on our land."
The statue was the vision of South Sydney local and Rabbitohs' donor and supporter, Danny Taibel who commissioned artist John Cabello.
Certain Johnston would break the record, Taibel scheduled the design, build and transportation to arrive before the match on Friday evening,
"The likeliness is truly remarkable," Taibel told the crowd.
"This is well deserved recognition of everything Alex has achieved, not just for South Sydney, but for the wider Randwick community.
"This sculpture will stand here in perpetuity for generations to come, ensuring that your legacy and the legacy of what you represent as a player, and as a man, will be forever remembered."
The record-breaking moment
Johnston first equalled the 53-year-old record late in the first half and set the Stadium on fire with his 213th career try.
The winger, set up brilliantly by Latrell Mitchell, sprinted home to finish an 80-metre team effort in the first minute of the second half.
Despite warnings from the NRL not to enter the pitch, Johnston was surrounded by teammates, around 2,000 fans, and even the Prime Minister - as everyone wanted a piece of the Torres Strait history maker.
With Johnston's moment seeing him praised across the board. Former Kangaroos superstar Cooper Cronk calling it “the greatest moment in our game’s history for a long period of time”.
Play eventually resumed after nearly 15 minutes of chaos.
“It was pretty crazy, it was full on. I honestly was struggling to breathe and it was so hot in there. There was so many people tugging me and trying to get a piece, but it was an awesome feeling that first minute for sure," Johnston said after the match.
In the wake of the history making match, police have confirmed two fans were arrested, one for entering the field of play after Johnston’s first try, and the second for assaulting security.
The Saibai Islander will now look to build on his historic haul when the Rabbitohs face Wests Tigers on Saturday.
