No matter how much success Waratahs rising stars Will Harrison and Ben Donaldson share, there might be one benchmark they'll never quite surpass.
The pair have been friends since they were kids but they're not the first generation of Harrisons and Donaldsons to share a rugby stage.
Their fathers, Mark Harrison and Stu Donaldson, met playing for Randwick in the 1980s and were part of a premiership-winning 1984 colts group.
While Mark and Stu are as proud as anyone of their sons, they still cheekily remind them of that 1984 season whenever they have the chance.
It's a schtick that caught on among the Junior Wallabies last year with their parents in Argentina to watch the boys' run to the World Rugby U20s Championship final, Stu says.
"Mark and I played colts and grade rugby together and that 1984 season we had a very good colts side, won a couple of premierships through the grades, and we always joke with the boys that they'll never be as good as those 1984 colts," he laughs.
"When we were in Argentina last year, even Jason Gilmore was in on it as well, giving the boys a bit of stick. It's just one of those Dad jokes they have to put up with."
That banter is all firmly tongue-in-cheek, and it's clear even from a 15-minute conversation how proud both families are of Will and Ben, whose rugby journeys have been intertwined since before they were born.
Both Mark, who is Randwick general manager, and Stu, who heads up the Wicks junior academy, are still heavily involved in the club but the dads have had to concede defeat relatively early as the boys climbed up the ranks.
"We certainly lost bragging rights about who were the better players, they put us to bed pretty early with their representation level," he says.
"For Randwick guys like us, we just love going down to Coogee Oval watching anyone play.
"To have your sons running around, winning first grade colts together and playing first grade and Australian schoolboys, it's beyond your wildest dreams."
Their shared history has made their journeys doubly special, both families celebrating either boy's achievements every step of the way.
Will's first memory of Ben is having a chat and kicking the footy between games at a Blacktown rugby carnival, two habits that have become a hallmark of their friendship.
Even now as Waratahs squad mates, the pair regularly go for coffees or surfs at Coogee beach, do extra kicking practice together and chat about footy or life.
They first played rugby as opponents, Will with the Coogee Seahorses, Ben with the Clovelly Eagles.
When Will's junior team folded, he made the switch to the Eagles and from there, the rugby paths of the two are hard to separate.
They both represented Randwick in age championships, played in Randwick's undefeated 2018 premiership colts side, Australian Schools & U18s, Junior Wallabies and even made their first grade debuts together.
"We got absolutely smashed by Sydney Uni, I was starting at fullback and Benny was in the first colts," Will recalls of their Randwick debuts.
"He got called up to the bench for first grade and our five-eighth went down in the first few minutes and so we pretty much played the full game with each other.
"We weren't really expecting to debut together but it was a pretty special day and we celebrated pretty hard that night."
Will's name has dominated a lot of Super Rugby conversation this year, thrust into the flyhalf position from round one after Bernard Foley's departure.
Ben was elevated into the full squad with the departure of Kurtley Beale and was handed his first minutes against the Force at the SCG, replacing Harrison.
"I was running past him as he's coming off and our families were both there in the grandstand so it made it even more special," Donaldson says.
"It's been a long journey and we've been together the whole time."
This season is in some ways reflective of their journeys, both highly talented but Donaldson more of a "slow burn" where Harrison has long been earmarked as a Super Rugby prospect.
Stu Donaldson coached the boys throughout their junior years and said while Will always appeared headed for big things, Ben was somewhat of a late bloomer.
"Will definitely, he was always a bit of a star coming through, he is just so competitive and hated losing," he recalls.
"Ben was a bit more of a slow burn, he was a good player in the rep teams but I think he really developed from year 12."
As players, they're complementary in many ways - both strong running players but Will describes Ben as more instinctive of the two.
Off the field, they're complementary too, Harrison more vocal and outwardly ambitious where Donaldson lets things wash over him somewhat.
"Will's competitive where Ben is maybe a bit more chilled out, laidback," Stu says.
"I was talking to (Waratahs vice-captain) Alex Newsome recently and he told me some of the boys have started calling him Bernie, like Steve Larkham.
"Ben's so laidback that sometimes you think he might fall over, and he is a bit like Steve, tall and in the way he runs."
Beneath his quieter exterior, Harrison says Donaldson is one of his most dependable friends.
"Dono, he's quiet until you get a few beers in him," he laughs.
"Awesome, a real humble fella, loves to be out and about...he's one of those blokes who you know is looking out for you.
"If you need anything, he'll sort you out, he's fun and you just know if you're around him it's going to be a laugh whatever it is."
Often vying for the same spot, it's a contest that could have seen them become fierce rivals but instead that shared goal has brought them closer, uniquely able to understand each other's challenges and goals.
Aside from the occasional blow-up over a game of Monopoly Deal, Will and Ben have little competitive angst towards each other.
They've both been shuffled around 10,12 and 15 to accommodate the other throughout the years.
"I definitely think it has made us closer," Donaldson says.
"We're always doing extras after training, we hang out a fair bit, have coffees and we're always talking about how we can improve our games.
"We're competing but it's a healthy rivalry that pushes us both to become better players."
Harrison echoes Donaldson's thoughts, saying he's never really viewed their relationship as one of fierce competition.
"Me and Dono are not really competitive with each other, we'll put up our hand to help each other, we've done that our whole lives," he says.
"There's no bad blood or anything ever, just a really positive energy, that's the biggest thing.
"We're just such good mates."
