Sevens standout Matt Gonzalez can't help but smile when he reflects on his journey to the Commonwealth Games.
The Eastwood standout had pushed for selection in the past, only for injuries to strike at the worst time.
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However, with COVID and a sudden decrease in full-time members decimating the squad, Gonzalez has been one of the key benefactors.
“If you told me in January that I was going to the Commonwealth Games, I would’ve laughed and called you a liar," he told Rugby.com.au
“I was here a couple of years ago and there was a couple of injuries that didn’t go my way so I think Jonny (Manenti) came in and wanted to give me a second chance.”
The 27-year-old made his debut in Singapore, joined by fellow Eastwood teammate Michael Icely.
From here, Gonzalez stepped up as a key player for the Sevens side, playing an essential role in their title charge in London as he was named in the Dream Team.
With the Commonwealth Games less than a week away, the magnitude of his journey was starting to hit home.
“I don’t have many words to describe how it actually feels,” Gonzalez admits.
“It’s a dream come true and something I didn’t think was in my realm of possibilities. To be able to representing my country on a multi-event world stage is unbelievable.
“This makes it real. We have that ticket and it hits you that I’m going to the Comm Games and representing Australia on a world stage."
Gonzalez is one of six players to have not experienced an Olympic or Commonwealth Games, reflecting the rapid overhaul the squad has undergone.
Despite the inexperience, Gonzalez is drawing off recent success against New Zealand and Fiji for confidence as they establish themselves as gold medal contenders.
“It’s massive,” he added. “Going into the first tournament in Singapore, I was actually quite nervous because you have those thoughts going ‘am I meant to be here’.
“Each tournament I’ve built more confidence and have confidence in myself that I can match it with the guys on the field and I don’t look out of place.
“To be able to beat New Zealand in London and Toulouse was huge for the boys because we know we can match it with them. To then beat Fiji in Oceania when they had a pretty close team (to their Comm Games squad), we were excited because it should we can do this and take it to these big dogs and come away from the Comm Games with a gold medal if we do our job.”
