THE 2020 NRL season has seen Kiama's Mitch Rein endure one of his toughest years to date - both on and off the field.
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The 30-year-old started at hooker for both of the Gold Coast Titans' opening two matches.
However, then COVID-19 hit and the 2020 NRL season went into disarray.
Rein, despite staying committed to his training regime, didn't feature in any of the Titans' first four matches after the season re-start - before coming off the bench for a combined 78 minutes in rounds seven and eight.
Following the latter against the Sharks, a knee injury to the Kiama High School alumnus saw him sidelined and forced to wait in the wings until an opportunity presented itself.
Thankfully for Rein, it has, as he has been named in Justin Holbrook's 17-man squad for Friday's clash with the Dragons - a club he played 133 games with.
"It's been years since I was at the Dragons but there's no doubting there's always that extra little bit of emotion when I line up against them, even if the team is vastly different," Rein, who also spent a year with Penrith in 2017, said.
"At the end of the day though, it's just another game and I'm really looking forward to getting out there and putting in a strong performance for the Titans.
"I'm ready to give our forwards and halves clean service and compete on every single play.
"It's been a little bit of a rollercoaster year for me with everything that's gone on, from my form to injuries and obviously COVID-19.
"I'd forced my way back into the side after the restart only for me to hurt my knee and ever since then, I've been working hard just to get fit again - made even harder with no option at reserve grade this season."
Interestingly enough, Friday's clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium will pit Rein, who will start in place of the injured Nathan Peats (calf), against his former teammate Dean Young - who he replaced at the Dragons number nine in 2011.
"Dean was an awesome teammate to have around, especially as a young player coming into grade footy - he taught me so much," Rein said.
"I knew back then he'd make a solid coach and it's great to see him get his chance as interim for the remainder of the season.
"His job wouldn't have changed much stepping up into this role and I'm sure all the players are loving having him as coach because he's such a good, honest footy brain."
It wasn't just a former mentor Rein had praise for, also highlighting the impact current coach Justin Holbrook, a former Milton-Ulladulla Bulldog, has had during his time at the Gold Coast - which saw his deal extended until the end of 2024 on Wednesday.
"Justin has been unreal ever since he got here - he has taught us all the importance of playing tough, staying in games and getting our core skills up to the level they needed to be at," Rein, who's contracted at the Cbus Super Stadium-based club until the end of next season, said.
"You can see the impact he's had on everyone here by how keen the club was to extend him - everyone loves playing for him.
"It's a great move by the club and it's only onwards and upwards from here."
Similarly, Holbrook was quick to throw his support behind fellow South Coast product Rein.
"Mitch is super excited to be back in the team, particularly this season where there's no second-tier competition for anyone that wants to play rugby league," he said.
"The nature of the beast at the moment is that only the players at the top get the play.
"He's been itching to get another go and with Nathan's injury, he gets his shot, which I'm sure he will make the most of."
Holbrook's opposite number on Friday also singled out how dangerous Rein could be come Friday night.
"He's a real competitor in his approach to training for the game," Dragons interim coach Dean Young said.
"He's got his opportunity this week and knowing Mitch, he's going to put his best foot forward to help the Titans win.
"I have no doubt he'll want to prove to Justin he should be there for the next couple of weeks.
"We know how dangerous he is around that scrum line - he will keep our markers and short side defender on their toes."