Joe Vuna's NRL return couldn't have been scripted any better.
His first top grade game back in 644 days was at home, in front of a big crowd and even resulted in a hard-fought wind on a searing Saturday afternoon against the Melbourne Storm.
In an added bonus, the Titans forward even scored his first NRL try in the contest.
But revelling in the success with the rest of his team at full-time wasn't just a walk in the park for the 24-year-old, who suffered a career-halting knee injury at the end of 2021.
Only returning to any form of grade rugby league with Tweed at the backend of last season, the desire to return to the bright lights came with a bumper pre-season at Parkwood - finishing as one of the squad's top performers, and a standout showing in week one of the Hostplus Cup helped end the almost two-year hiatus.
"I felt good and it was definitely a good occasion... our first home game, so I was wanting to get up for it," Vuna said.
"It was definitely a special feeling but she was a warm one on the weekend so the lungs were definitely getting a good work out.
"But it felt so good to be out there."
Debuting in 2018, Vuna had yet to find the white stripe in his NRL career... until a chance was put on a silver platter right in front of him in his return game, going a long way to helping the Coast secure the two points.
"Getting over for the first time... trying to celebrate with the boys was funny," he said.
"Everyone came together and I was screaming there (in celebration) but I was so tired and I felt done hey...
"The first one is always good and it felt so good to cross the line for the first time."
The hard running forward was also able to celebrate the occasion with a number of family and friends who flew over from New Zealand for his first match back in just under two years - helping him lift even more in the Storm takedown.
"I had a few family members there on the weekend and even had my brother fly over from New Zealand to come watch," Vuna said.
"Not all of my family back at home could make it, but he came on behalf of all of them, so it felt good to see them out there.
"It definitely motivated me to play harder."
Vuna has once again been named on the interchange bench for the Titans in this Saturday's Queensland derby against the Cowboys.
