Warwick, Hamilton sign on to bolster Macquarie Raider's senior side
He's been a South Dubbo Raiders junior, a Western Rams star and most recently a Penrith Panthers' SG Ball recruit.
Aston Warwick has tried a little of everything so far in his young rugby league career, but soon, he'll be trying to fill a much bigger set of boots.
Warwick, along with Rams and Panther's team-mate Brandan Hamilton, has signed on to play for the Macquarie Raiders senior squad in the upcoming Group 11 season.
It's a role that Warwick's father Brett, made his own across an incredible 30-year stint with the club.
Brett is a name synonymous with the club, and his legacy has loomed large over his young son, who's always felt the pressure to live up to the last name.
But now, he's starting to enjoy it.
"I've been dreaming of playing first grade for Macquarie, I grew up watching dad do it, so it means a lot," Warwick said.
While the Raiders have signed a host of big names during a bumper recruitment drive - the latest marquee arrival being Wade Kavanagh from crosstown rivals CYMS - they have still kept a focus on local juniors.
Back-rower Warwick and pacey outside back Hamilton are the latest to be told they have an opportunity to push for first grade when they finish up their current commitments with the Panthers in the SG Ball competition.
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"There's a little bit of nerves, of course," Warwick said of potentially playing first grade.
"But at training at the moment all the senior boys have been training together and they've all been very welcoming, there's a real good feeling around the club right now.
"I'm pretty excited, Macquarie haven't had the strongest team the last couple of years, but I'm looking forward to getting back into it and really looking to have a good year there.
"Everyone's feeling that excitement, hopefully if me and Brandan get a crack, we'll be able to step up and do the job and stick it to the big boys a little bit."
While the two young guns will be bringing all that experience and talent back home to Apex Oval when they return to bush footy, Warwick's already looking to develop his game under the tutelage of captain-coach Alex Ronayne.
"Especially with him having been the Rams' opens captain, at training he's getting everyone involved, someone with his experience, I can't wait to play alongside him and hopefully pick up what I can," Warwick said.
"Even if I have to play 18s first, string together some wins there and hopefully secure a spot in that senior's side, that'd be fine."
Working alongside long-time team-mate Hamilton is also taking some of the pressure off, with both Raiders juniors looking forward to getting to play together at home again.
"It's great, he came over when we were about 12 and we've played pretty much every rep game, every club game together since then, me and him are pretty tight at this point, so it'll be heaps good to keep playing beside him," Warwick said.
"It's an unreal experience going down to Penrith every weekend at the moment, but there's nothing better than playing against CYMS at home, or getting to play for Macquarie."
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