As someone in his early 20s who was playing in the bush after a stint at Penrith, the enormity of what Ray Farag was achieving wasn't immediately clear.
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It was 1990 and Farag was lining up in the centres for Western Division at Bathurst's Carrington Park against the French national side.
While thrilled to be taking part, Farag admitted he and his teammates underestimated the French a little after the touring national side had been beaten by a North Coast team just the week before.
France ran out 32-20 winners on the night and the two current editions of sides will meet on Wednesday night when the Rams welcome the national side to Parkes' Jock Colley Field.
Farag and a number of his teammates from 1990 will be in attendance and he hopes the players who got the chance he once did realise what they're a part of.
"I'm 51 now I'm only just starting to understand how special that jersey is and what it is to play for Western," Farag, now based on the Central Coast, said.
"These guys need to cherish this moment. I did but I wish I had cherished it more and now I really appreciate it more.
"I was a young fella who thought it was another game of footy but it's really not. You're playing against a national side."
Farag was a part of history that night 19 years ago, as were the Western players who took on France before him in 1951, 1955, 1960, and 1964.
When Farag thinks of the 1990 game he firstly thinks of the fun he and his teammates had at the time.
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And the confusion around taking on players who didn't have English as a first language.
"It was pretty funny. They were calling plays in French and we didn't know what was going on."
Farag moved to the Central Coast five years late and has been there since, meaning there hasn't been a great deal of contact with his Western teammates from 1990.
That's why he's looking forward to Wednesday night so much, but there will also be a sombre tone to the reunion.
The 1990 side, one which featured the likes of Steve Funnell, Sean Watson, Mitch Luka, John Fearnley, and Peachey brothers Mick and Martin Peachey, was coached by the legendary Steve 'Bear' Hall.
A giant of bush footy and the game as a whole across the state, Hall passed away early this year after a lengthy battle with illness.
"He was a great coach and just a great person," Farag said, having also known Hall during the pair's time together at CYMS.
"I was someone I looked up to. I was at his funeral and that was a sad day.
"I know he never played NRL but you look at the way people talk about Artie Beetson and I reckon in the bush and country footy people were the same with 'Bear' and were in awe of him.
"I'm glad I got to know him and call him a friend."
The memories of Hall and his time in a Western jersey are not the only fond ones Farag has been looking back on this season.
While he played the majority of his footy at CYMS, outside a two-year stint in the lower grades at Penrith, Farag also spent one year with the Wellington Cowboys in 1994.
The Cowboys won the competition that year and that remained the club's most recent premiership win until this season's side achieved glory.
"It was a long time ago but it's all about to talk about," Farag said.
"It feels like yesterday to me and it was a special time."
The Western Rams take on France from 7pm at Parkes' Jock Colley Field on Wednesday night.