Six years ago Jayson Bukuya was thinking about giving the game away.
But on Saturday night the Cronulla forward will try to help the Sharks create their own slice of history.
Cronulla host the New Zealand Warriors at Southern Cross Group Stadium looking for a club record-equaling 11th straight victory.
Two Cronulla teams have achieved that feat but, if the Sharks win their next two home games against the Warriors and Parramatta, they will achieve the longest winning streak in the club’s history.
The great Cronulla team of the late ‘70s won 11 games in a row between round 19, 1977 and round 7, 1978. As did the Sharks’ prodigious team of the new millennium that won 11 straight matches between rounds 13 and 24 in 2002.
But no Sharks side has won 12 in a row.
The Sharks sit proudly on top of the NRL table after 15 rounds with their unbeaten run, which has claimed the scalps of competition heavyweights Brisbane, North Queensland, Melbourne and Manly, firmly in tact.
It is this success that has Bukuya thanking his lucky stars he didn’t throw in the towel during the tough start to his career.
The 27-year-old is the club’s second longest serving player having made his first grade debut against Canterbury in 2008 – but Bukuya only made two appearances for the Sharks that year.
His next game in the black, white and blue didn’t come until almost three years later thanks to serious ankle and shoulder injuries.
Bukuya told The Leader the club’s current success had made the dark days worth it.
“There were plenty of times I wanted to throw it in,” he said.
“I missed two years. So it doesn’t feel like I’ve been here [one of] the longest. I sort of feel like I debuted a bit later on. I don’t really think about that but I suppose it’s a bit of a thing to look at.
“I had a syndesmosis [injury] and broke my fibula.
“So I missed a whole year through that and the year after I got both my shoulders done.”
The underrated lock or second-rower spent the 2014 season with the Warriors before returning to the shire.
Those 12 months were another tough learning experience.
“It was massive to come back,” he said.
“I was so thankful that the Sharks took me back too.
“The year I went away made me appreciate the club a lot more and what I had here.
“I really enjoy my time here and my family enjoy it here. It was a learning curve.”
Bukuya didn’t shy away from Cronulla’s lofty position at the top of the table and said he enjoyed being the team to chase.
“I’ve never sat at the top of the table before at the club. I’ve never had this good a run I don’t think. It’s an awesome feeling to be a part of and just want it to keep going,” he said.
“Where we’re sitting on the table, all the teams that are below us want to try and knock us off. So every game from now on in is going to be a tough game. There’s not going to be any easy games so we’re expecting big games every week. The boys are ready for that.
“I don’t really think of it that way [being the hunted]. I suppose it’s exciting. To have the shoe on the other foot and have teams try to come at us and knock us off, it’s exciting for us. I think we’re up for the challenge.
“I think just in the big games and the close games we just love putting our bodies on the line for each other and knowing that when we run out there everyone’s going to put in. No one’s going to take a backward step from anyone and we’re going to do our best for the team.”
Kick-off is at 5.30pm.
