Beau Scott has won a premiership and represented Australia and NSW, but he rates the opportunity to captain Country as right up there with the top moments in his stellar career.
Hailing from Picton in the NSW Southern Highlands, Scott is very proud of his background and links to the bush.
It's a pride also shared up by his father Col, a bloke who couldn't contain his excitement when he broke the captaincy news to his son on Sunday night.
"I knew I was in the team, but I didn’t know I was captain until my old man Col rang me last night," Scott explains.
"He was pretty pumped and he said, ‘congratulations on making the team’ and I said, ‘oh thanks.’
"Then he said, ‘do you know you’re captain?
"I hadn't, so to hear the news from him and see how excited he was makes it as well.
"Dad has been there from the beginning and he and mum (Julie) have spent the hours during the week taking me to football training and to the games on the weekend.
"It was just all part of the regime and I guess I wouldn’t be here today without the humble beginnings.
"To make the country team I was pretty excited about, but then I read I was captain and I was honoured.
"I started from humble beginnings playing for the Picton Magpies, so to go back to your roots and be able to represent and captain country is very special and it means a lot, because it’s where it all starts."
Speaking of starting points, Scott received his first taste of representative football via the Country team back in 2009.
Since that game, he has played Origin and Test football and he credits that original Country versus City fixture for his progression.
"I think it’s a great foundation for a step up into representative football," he says.
"It was my first rep game and you’ve got to start somewhere.
"It gives the young fellas the taste of what it like at the next level up and I guess leading up to the Origin and hopefully representing the Blues one day."
Scott will line-up alongside Newcastle teammates Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts and James McManus in Dubbo on Sunday.
The hard working back-rower can't wait to run around with his fellow Knights.
"To have a couple of teammates represent Country at the same time is always good," he enthuses.
"Especially for young Tyrone. It’s his debut and I’m looking forward to seeing him put his hand up and have a strong game."
The annual Country versus City fixture is also a chance for the players to return to the bush and encourage the next generation of stars to chase their NRL goals.
For Scott this is something particularly close to his heart, as he was once that kid from the country with a dream of playing first grade football.
"I enjoy getting back out west there and especially giving back to the community," he says.
"Hopefully I’ll be able to get around to a lot of the junior league and schools out there in the next week and give a little bit back."
Because Scott will never forget his humble country beginnings.
