NRL, just like any professional sport, is all about opportunity.
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And after sitting on the sidelines during Magic Round, Milton-Ulladulla junior Jack Murchie has been reinstated into the Warriors' line-up for round 11 - following the injuries to second-rowers Josh Curran (elbow) and Bayley Sironen (knee).
With competition for spots in New Zealand's 17-man squad each week becoming harder to come by, the 23-year-old intends to make the most of his chance on Friday against the Wests Tigers at Central Coast Stadium.
"I'd obviously like to be playing each week but I haven't let missing selection get to me," the Batemans Bay-born Murchie said.
"I've been using the extra training time to work on aspects of my game, so I can help contribute the side to winning.
"The biggest ones are consistency and energy, which [Nathan] Browny has been talking to me about since he joined the club.
"I've been really trying hard to close that gap between my best performance and worst one.
"I'm stoked to get back into the side this week, especially getting a chance in the run-on side - I'm really keen to put on a strong performance this week and hopefully cement my spot in the 17."
The former Kiama High School student, who's spent time in the back-row and middle this season, admits it won't be easy though.
"We've got a lot of talented forwards at the club but I feel I can offer something in attack that few others can," he said.
"What I can do with the ball in my hands is a point of difference and I'll be looking to be as dangerous as I can this Friday, to ensure I can hold my spot in the squad."
Although he didn't take to the field during the NRL's crackdown on high contact to the head, the former Gerringong Lion doubts the changes will force him to change his style of play too much.
"No one really goes out there to try and take someone's head off, so I'm sure I'll be fine - I'm just going to have to be that little bit extra careful," he said.
"The last thing you want is for your team to be down a player, so I'm sure you'll see a much more concerted effort this week from all teams to keep the tackles down."
To ensure his side, who sit in 10th with a 4-6 record, end their two-game skid on Friday, Murchie knows what his side needs to do.
"Our ball security and completions haven't been where we'd like them to be in recent weeks, so that's a big one for us," he said.
"Last week, we were forced to make a lot more tackles than the opposition and any time you give quality teams plenty of ball, you're going to make it hard for yourself.
"If we can do that and build pressure, it'll go a long way to getting the two points on Friday."
As well as the Tigers clash, the Warriors, which also feature Shellharbour's Euan Aitken, know a return home, after more than a year on Australian soil, is also on the horizon.
"The only time I've been to New Zealand previously is when my junior teams have played against the Warriors," Murchie said.
"So I'm looking forward to getting over there soon and seeing first hand what it's all about, as I've heard some really positive things.
"All us boys are really excited to get back there, whenever that may be, and play in front of our home fans."