Darryl Brohman feigned outrage last year when his name wasn't on a shortlist of Hall of Fame nominees for rugby league players, contributors and broadcasters.
"I never get nominated for anything," said Brohman (aka the Big Marn) on the 2GB Continuous Call program. "I mean I've done everything, except for a lot of stuff."
Well, the tide has turned for the former league star turned radio and TV personality.
He has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours for service to rugby league.
Brohman, a Cronulla resident who has been with his partner Bev for 31 years and has four daughters and two granddaughters, said he was taken by surprise when advised of the award.
"I don't really know what it means," he said.
"I know it's a significant award, a great honour and I am grateful, pleased and excited.
"Maybe it's recognition for trying to be a good person as much as I can, which is not hard. You face a few hurdles along the way and you try to overcome them.
"I am happy with the person I am and I can thank my parents for that.
"We were a family of battlers - my father was a bricklayer and we didn't have any money.
"My parents are not here now, but I think they would be very proud."
Brohman said his approach to media work was simple.
"I try to be myself," he said. "I have always been a bit of a fun guy and don't take life too seriously.
"I try to see the lighter side of anything that's thrown at me."
As an ambassador for the Starlight Foundation since 2013, he loves being able to "put a smile on the faces of some very sick kids and give their parents a break at the same time".
He visits Starlight wards at the Children's Hospital at Westmead once a month.
Brohman has been involved in rugby league since he was 11 and is grateful to have made a living from it.
He was selected in first grade at Norths in Brisbane at the age of 17 and acknowledges the help he received from English and Australian stars Tommy Bishop and John Sattler, with whom he played.
Brohman moved to Sydney when he was 23, playing for the Panthers in two stints - he was captain for part of that time - and winning a premiership with the Bulldogs in 1984.
He also made two state of Origin appearances for Queensland in 1983 and 1986.
He took up coaching in Brisbane after his playing days finished in 1987 and was sacked as Broncos assistant coach by Wayne Bennett ("he saw me as a threat").
Phil Gould lured him back to Sydney in a coaching role at the Bulldogs and they later moved together to the Panthers.
His media career began when Brian Sanders from radio 2KA called him out of the blue and asked whether he would call Panthers' home games.
He received $60 a game.
After working for 2SM, 2UE and ABC radio, he joined 2GB. He was also part of the Nine Network's Footy Show for eight years before it was axed.
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