Chris Hill had been at Warrington Wolves that long he was almost part of the furniture at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Over a decade later and Hill signed for Huddersfield Giants with his impact being felt every step of the way.
The 34-year-old played almost 300 games for Warrington after over 150 for his boyhood club Leigh Centurions, but now finds himself in a Challenge Cup Final at the first time of asking with Huddersfield.
And, Hill has now revealed why he made the switch, professing that the lure of Ian Watson at the John Smith’s Stadium was too much to ignore.
“He is probably one of the main reasons why I went over there when I had a chat with him,” Hill told the RFL’s YouTube channel.
“His ambitions and the club’s ambitions going forward and I want to help some of the young kids coming through.
“I’m at the back end of my career but I feel I’ve got a lot to give with a lot of advice.
“He (Watson) was a big reason why I came over.”
Watson will be leaning on Hill to get Huddersfield over the line against Wigan Warriors tomorrow at the showpiece event at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.