Forbes' Charlie Staines became just the second player ever to score four tries in his NRL debut on Saturday afternoon, and his Forbes fans were right there to cheer him on.
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An enormously proud dad Shayne on Monday described the experience as "pretty surreal".
He and mum Lisa have watched Charlie score tries on rugby league ovals all over the countryside, but they were on Cloud 9 as he made his NRL debut in stunning style.
Watching him score those tries with some of his closest friends right there cheering him on?
"That's my most cherished moment," Staines said.
It was something Charlie savoured as well.
"It was unreal," the 19-year-old said of his afternoon.
"They're the boys who've been there since day one so it was good."
Photos, stories and videos of the Forbes crew celebrating both in Sydney and at home quickly shared on social media, with gifs and memes springing up as fast as Staines moved down the wing at Kogarah.
Magpies president Matt Coleman quickly became busy as tales of his pub, the Post Office Hotel, giving out free beers if Staines scored a try spread.
But Coleman, like everyone else in the town of less than 10,00 people, was just thrilled to see a former local junior starring on the biggest stage of all.
The stories about Coleman's pub and the countless images of the Forbes boys celebrating at Kogarah all added to what was an unforgettable experience for all involved.
Forbes first grade coach, and Charlie's uncle, Cameron Greenhalgh said it added to the whole story.
While the Forbes boys quickly became favourites with footy fans all over, there was much more to them being there for their mate.
It had been a rushed few days after word came through on Thursday afternoon Staines would be making his debut.
COVID-19 restrictions meant only a certain number of fans could go but it was a group of roughly 20, including Staines' family, who made the trip.
There was also former teammates like Brad Clifford, Mitch Rubie, and Toby Hurford in attendance, celebrating their fellow Magpies' success.
"They've been mates with Charlie since coming through the juniors at the Magpies," Greenhalgh added.
The whole experience as Kogarah was "awesome", according to Greenhalgh, while adding the 80-minute performance has the potential to be life-changing for Staines.
But you wouldn't have known that after the final whistle on Saturday.
"He was pretty much the same Charlie," Greenhalgh said.
The quietly-spoken but fleet-of-foot teenager who Greenhalgh describes as a "silent assassin".
