One man's misfortune led to an unexpected NRL debut for Darryn Schonig and his mullet on Saturday night.
Schonig ran out as 18th man for the warm up ahead of our clash with the Raiders, unaware he would soon be playing his first minutes of first-grade.
While Tom Eisenhuth's seemingly never-ending run of bad luck continues, his hamstring strain proved an opportunity for Daz.
"I was on the field, holding the pad during the warm up, I wasn't expecting to play at all," Schonig said on Monday.
"I saw Eiso grabbing at his hammy and the physics tried to give him a run and he couldn't.
"Az (Aaron) Bellamy came over to me and said, 'mate you're going to play tonight.'
"It took me by surprise, it was a gift to be able to finally make my debut."
Schonig on his surprise NRL debut
"I preferred it that way, I didn't have enough time to think about it too much," he added.
"Because it happened right there and then I was more pumped than I was nervous.
"Sitting on the bench I was so immersed in the game, I didn't have too much time to stress.
"I loved being out there. It was so fast - the pace was next level."
Meanwhile, Darryn's mum had already switched off the telly and was ready for an early night.
I didn't get a chance to call anyone. I called out to (welfare manager) BP on the sidelines and said 'mate can you please call my mum.'
Darryn Schonig
"She was only going to watch the warm up and go to bed. She was already lying down to go to sleep when BP called her.
"She was pretty emotional, I heard there were a few tears."
Daz is the latest Sunshine Coast Falcons player to rep the Storm jersey, joining the likes of Ryan Papenhuyzen, Justin Olam, Ryley Jacks, Tino Fa'Asuamaleaui and his housemate Nicho Hynes.
"I think there's a really good connection between the Storm and the Falcons," he said.
"The system definitely seems to be working well."
