Chasing dreams always comes with sacrifices... just ask train-and-triallist Ethan Clark-Wood who has packed up his life and moved north to do just that.
As his six-week stint at Titans HQ comes to an end, the 24-year-old acknowledges the road hasn’t been without its hurdles, with his family's support playing a pivotal role throughout his rugby league journey.
"It was great at the start because my family came up from Sydney for a holiday in my first week, but when they left I really did struggle," Clark-Wood told titans.com.au about his move to the Gold Coast.
"I’m so family orientated and I missed them a lot, but I was able to settle in quite quickly and really enjoy being up here.
"I actually got injured halfway through this year and was out for seven weeks which was really tough, but the hardest thing for me was not the actual injury but the mental side of it.
"It was my first big proper injury that had me out for an extended time, so not playing or being around the team really did take a toll on me.
"My family and friends being around was a big part that helped me get through.
"You really don’t realise how much you lean on them until something like that happens."
Chasing his NRL dream at the Panthers as a Penrith junior, family played a central role in Clark-Wood's next career move - shifting to St. George Illawarra to honour a personal dream of his grandad's.
"I played at Penrith from the age of 13 and it was really good playing all of my junior footy at the club but because of the talent out there it was hard to get an opportunity," he said.
"Moving to the Dragons felt really special because my grandad barracked for the club, so they were the team I grew up supporting.
"He passed away two years ago, so it was good for him to see me in those colours.
"Then I went to the Sydney Roosters which was a good experience as well because I felt like every step of the way I’ve developed my game.
"I really found my feet there but coming to the Gold Coast definitely feels like the next step up."
After a four-year stint in the NSW Cup, the decision to join the Tweed Seagulls in 2025 reflects a fresh start for the rising rookie, with the move offering exciting new opportunities for growth and development.
"I'm excited for a change," he said.
"Playing 53 games in the NSW Cup, you get used to the ins and outs each season but it'll feel different in the Hostplus Cup.
"It's been really good linking up with some of the Tweed boys here as well, so we can take those connections back to the club and hopefully find success in 2025."
