It's a huge sporting weekend ahead with the All Blacks taking on Argentina and the NRL and AFL grand finals.
Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck slipped away to celebrate privately with his proud father, Johnny, following his historic Dally M medal win in Sydney on Wednesday night.
The 25-year-old became the first Warrior and just the third Kiwis player to win the award as the best player in the NRL and also claimed the Fullback of the Year trophy at a gala dinner at Circular Quay.
The Kiwi international could have kicked on at the official awards after party but in typical low-key style preferred to enjoy the moment alone with the man who set him on the path to greatness.
"It was funny, there was an after party downstairs but me and my old man just took off," said Tuivasa-Sheck.
"We just hit the streets and walked back to the hotel and as soon as we got there we just sat there in silence just taking it all in.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke share a moment at the Dally M awards. Photo /Getty
"We were talking and we still couldn't believe it. We were in shock. We caught up with the lads later and it was hard to go to sleep. I was lying in bed thinking 'this is still unreal'."
Tuivasa-Sheck was pleased his father could accompany him on the night with his fiancée Ashley Walker remaining in Auckland with the couple's young baby.
As soon as his medal triumph was announced by Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, Tuivasa-Sheck turned straight to his dad and shared a few quiet words before taking the stage to make an emotional acceptance speech.
His phone quickly began filling with messages from teammates, friends, and loved ones, and he was still trying to reply to all the well-wishers after he arrived back in Auckland late on Thursday afternoon.
"That was a crazy moment just to have him there," he said.
"He's been with me since day one, training me up and taking me to all my games no matter where it was rain, hail or shine.
"Just to have him there to celebrate this moment, he didn't say much when my name was called out but you could just see by the look in his eyes that it was special.
"My phone was going off. As soon as I came out of the Awards I FaceTimed Mum and Ash and Bub and then put my phone away to enjoy the moment."
Following the presentation, Tuivasa-Sheck was then honoured by his Warriors teammates, with hooker Issac Luke leading an impromptu haka, together with Jazz Tevaga, David Fusitu'a, and Canberra's Jordan Rapana and Brisbane's Jamayne Isaako.
Only once he and his dad were back at their hotel did the significance of his achievements begin to sink in.
"[Dad] just said he couldn't believe it. Even though he was telling me 'you've got this' he couldn't believe it.
"When I look at the list of players who have won the medal like Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston I still can't believe it.
"We both said this is an award that just the greats get and those names that are on the list it's just hard to picture myself next to them. That's why we were still in shock."
Along with messages of congratulations, Tuivasa-Sheck was also being reminded of the need to take care of his left knee as he continues his recovery from recent surgery.
A medial ligament and meniscal injury suffered during the Warriors qualifying final defeat to Penrith means he will miss the Kiwis end of year tests but he has his sights set on being ready to begin pre-season training in November.
"My physio has been texting me, I've got to make sure I'm icing when I'm out," he said.
"I've got rehab to get through over the next couple of weeks and then we'll see how we go from there.
"I'm pushing for [pre-season]. That's the whole reason why I'm not going to be going away on tour. I just want to get the body right."
