Wallabies enforcer Hunter Paisami teared up as he reflected on a rocky rugby journey that has led to his current status as one of Australia's most exciting young players.
The 23-year-old centre allowed Nine and Stan Sport's Roz Kelly inside his family home in Brisbane for an emotional interview ahead of Wednesday night's opening Test against France.
Paisami was sacked by the Rebels in 2018 after being charged with affray following a late night fight.
"I got into a little incident in Melbourne at a nightclub," Paisami said.
"I woke up in the morning with two police cars in front of my house.
"At the back of my mind I was like 'this is their way for them (Rebels) to tear up my contract, to get rid of me. I felt gutted.
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"My dad at that time was disappointed. He couldn't go to work, he was ashamed, he couldn't do nothing. I was ashamed to come home and look at my family, my little sisters.
"I felt like I let them down big time."
Then 20 and yet to make his Super Rugby debut, Paisami was viewed as one of Melbourne's best prospects but he was forced to look elsewhere to re-establish his career.
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He decided on Brisbane where he had to start again from rock bottom.
"It was tough, it was my first time living out of home," said Paisami, who will partner Matt To'omua in midfield against France.
"My manager picked me up from the airport and went to the office where I'd be staying.
"My bed was a couch and I still remember my first night in Brisbane.
"I just lay there – I was longer than the couch. I was just teary, like 'what have I done to myself and my family?' I called my parents and said 'I can't do it, I'm coming back home.'
"But it was my dad, I heard him in the background saying: 'no, no stay there, wait till the season and see how it goes'."
The rest is history as Paisami's compelling club form caught the eye of Reds coach Brad Thorn.
"It was surreal, I thought it was fake," Paisami said of his Queensland debut last year.
"I called my parents, FaceTimed them. My dad was in front of the camera and kind of drifted away because he was tearing up.
"For me to make my Super Rugby debut, it was me and my family's dream.
"That was our goal."
Remarkably, Paisami wasn't finished there last year as he kicked on to make the Wallabies after his first season of Super Rugby.
"I couldn't believe it, to play for your country is something special."
Indeed life is good for the hard-hitting centre who has bought his proud family a house in Brisbane while he and partner Chloe are awaiting the birth of their first daughter in September.
"Everything I do, it's for them."
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