When 14-year-old Ethan Foster found out he had been selected to attend a five-day camp at the Newcastle Knights National Rugby League (NRL) club on January 7, 2017, he exclaimed: “Bloody hell Dad, it’s on my birthday!” His father, Geoff, who represented NSW Country Firsts during his rugby league career in the 1970s, retorted: “Well, what a good birthday present.” Ethan’s letter from the Knights states that he has been “identified by the Knights as a player with potential to improve and progress through the Newcastle Knights Development Program”. Ethan is a big boy; he weighs around 87 kilograms and stands 180cm tall. Ethan said it “means a fair bit” to him to make the squad. “I’ve been training hard for it, four or five days a week at the gym – that’s what I want in life: a career out of footy.” He cites North Queensland Cowboys lock, Jason Tamoulolo, as his most inspirational player. He said that his desire to succeed comes from his “Dad and other people in my life”. “Since a young age, he has helped me, motivated me and given me confidence. “He told me that he knew I had potential and that I didn’t know it yet – I finally figured out that I did and started working like I knew I could succeed.”