Queensland prop Moeaki Fotuaika once ran alongside NSW counterpart Payne Haas on the footy field, but now he's aiming to clout him.
The rumble in the Homebush jungle between the former Keebra Park High teammates will be one of the highlights of the State of Origin series opener on Wednesday night.
Gold Coast front-rower Fotuaika got one over on Brisbane's Haas in the 36-34 NRL win on Sunday.
"Everyone speaks about it, mate versus mate, state versus state, and me coming up against Payne is just that," Fotuaika said.
"I played with Payne. We were in the same grade together, and he's the same size now that he was in grade eight.
“You're never going to stop his impact in the game.
"It's just about containing him and then limiting his opportunities."
Fotuaika has moved on from the schoolyard days when he would come on for Haas and North Queensland's Thomas Mikaele, who started up front for the champion Keebra Park side.
The Tongan international has fond memories of Sunday's win over Haas and company. Now he wants to double-down.
“For a club like the Titans, it's one of our biggest rivalries," he said.
“All the boys always get up for it. For me, you always want to get it over the other forward pack, and coming into Origin that's the same as us in the Maroons. You want to dominate in the middle."
Fotuaika has always looked up to older brother Feao Fotuaika, who forged a path in Super Rugby with Queensland Reds and now plays prop for Top 14 side Lyon in France.
The Fotuaika family was rocked by tragedy when Moeaki's older brother Mosese died in 2013 when on the cusp of a career in the NRL.
Moeaki and Feao have both pursued their own dreams since.
Feao lost 16kg to get himself in shape to play at the top level.
“(Feao) has been a big inspiration for me," Moeaki said.
“He started his career late, playing professionally, and I've seen him go through what he has and training hard. He lost all that weight, to get back in Super Rugby.
“So it's good to see that work ethic.
“For me as a younger brother, you always look up to your older brother, and that was definitely something I looked at and definitely motivates me to work hard in different areas of my game."
Fotuaika said he was never tempted to go union.
“I've always played league my whole life and I love this game and I don't see myself playing union," he said.
“I love watching it. I have played it, maybe twice, and I didn't really like it.
“I looked up to (Feao), but I didn't want to go down that pathway of playing rugby.
“So for me, I want to be like him, but in league."
