Burton has since gone on to become a premiership-winning star in the NRL and that's the dream for 21-year-old Scolari, as well.

Scolari is preparing to start NRL pre-season with the Wests Tigers on Wednesday after a host of outstanding performances for the club's Jersey Flegg side during a COVID-interrupted 2021.

The winger, who hits as hard as he runs, was named the Tigers Players' Player for the season and his efforts with and without the ball didn't go unnoticed at the club.

It's been quite the rise for the 21-year-old, who was leaning towards rugby union after finishing school at St Joseph's College in Sydney in 2018.

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But the Tigers offered him a train-and-trial deal and Jersey Flegg coach Wayne Lambkin immediately realised the youngster who played in the forwards at South Dubbo could do a job on the wing.

"I just love carrying the ball and making metres. That's my thing, doing those hard yards," Scolari said of his game.

"I'm stoked I got that award."

Like so many kids growing up in Dubbo, the weekends were about as much footy as possible for Scolari.

He played both league and union and spent plenty of time at Joey's playing the 15-a-side game.

In league, as is often the case in these parts, his South Dubbo Raiders developed quite the rivalry with St John's.

"Me and Burto were rivals," Scolari said of Canterbury-bound premiership winner Matt Burton.

"He played for St John's and we would play them every year in the grand final. That was pretty good."

Scolari would play in Dubbo until the under 12s, before he made the move to boarding school in Sydney.

He continued to play league and union and he believes having a background in both codes has made him a more well-rounded player.

The lessons he learned about defence from South Dubbo coach Brett Harvey in the juniors was also hugely important for his development.

"League is best for defence, I get all my defence from that and the leg drive and trying to evade tackles through contact," Scolari said.

"In union, you've got to get away from defenders and it's so much more open. Both aspects help."

The Tigers' NRL pre-season starts on Wednesday and Scolari is out to impress Tigers coach Michael Maguire after getting the chance in a pre-season match earlier this year.

"I'll play anywhere. It's always been the dream to play in the NRL," he said.

"They (Tigers) have let young blokes in and hopefully I can get a go. I really want that. I'll see what I can do and will try my hardest in pre-season to make an impression on Madge (Maguire)."

Scolari has earned plenty of praise for his defensive ability during his days in league and union.

That aspect of the game is something he mentions time and time again, much more than his ability to find the try-line.

"Nowadays we're going in to be an extra forward, carrying for the majority of the metres and I love that," he said, before looking forward to pre-season.

"I love training so it will be heaps good. Being around those skills, I'll pick up little things. Around running the ball, I want to pick up somethings there. Defence is probably my strong point but I could still pick up things on running the ball and finding space.

"It's going to be heaps good."

Scolari's Tigers were top of the Jersey Flegg ladder after 17 rounds this season before it was cancelled due to COVID-19.

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