Roommates while on tour in England for the Rugby League World Cup with the PNG Kumuls last year, Dan Russell and Jacob Alick already had a special connection and Round 19, they both celebrated a career milestone by making their NRL debuts.
For Russell, who ran out for the St George Illawarra Dragons in their close loss to the Raiders, the moment was a long time coming after previously spending time with NRL clubs the North Queensland Cowboys as well as the Brisbane Broncos in the Under 20s.
It was a great feeling honestly … it's just a dream come true and actually a weight off my shoulders for all those sacrifices and just goes to show that you have just got to keep at your dream and keep working hard, training hard and you can live your dream, Russell said.