All Black great Jeremy Thrush has been through it all: Bledisloe Cup triumphs, World Cups and a Super Rugby Final.
So for the giant 37-year-old to be brought to tears whilst presenting Ian Prior his 100th Super Rugby jersey shows what the halfback means to the Western Force and WA Rugby.
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Prior will reach the milestone when he takes the field for the Force during Friday’s clash with the Crusaders.
In doing so, Prior joins a list of Wallaby greats: Gregan, Larkham, Giteau, Cooper and Hooper to achieve the feat.
He will bring it up just hours before fellow Queenslander James O’Connor achieves the same milestone, with their pathways far from identical.
Whilst JOC was the ‘golden boy’ of Australian rugby, making his debut at 18, Prior had to fight his way through the club scene and ‘work his arse off’ to eventually earn his debut for the Reds in 2011.
Success seemed to follow the Bundaberg boy, winning the title with the club in the same year before almost achieving a similar fate in 2013 with the Brumbies as they made the final.
Since then, Prior has become a favourite son in Western Australia, turning down offers from other Super Rugby clubs as he remained loyal to the squad.
This is evident to see whenever a player talks about Prior and what he means to the club.
For captain Kyle Godwin, it’s clear the club would not be the same without Prior’s tenacity and incredible leadership.
“It’s a great achievement that he’s done. Not many players get to achieve that milestone and that talks to the character he is,” Godwin said.
“He epitomises the Western Force. He’s the heart and soul of the team and (Jeremy) Thrushy said that earlier on the day when he presented the jersey and we all believe that.
“He’s been huge for the Western Force…not many people make 100 games so full credit to him and it’s a testament to him. I hope for his sake we can put in a performance that he can be proud of and deserves.”
Having stuck tough with the club after returning from English club Harlequin FC, Prior has been with the Force throughout its highs and lows.
It’s given him a true appreciation of what the game can offer and how crucial it is to celebrate those special moments.
“When your young and come to professional sport, it’s always ‘what’s next’, goal setting and achieving that next mark. It’s great to get to 100 Super Rugby games but I think at times you have to sit back and smell the roses,” Prior believes.
“I was just fortunate, I worked my way into that Reds team and I won a premiership in my first year. I wasn’t even 21. I thought ‘geez how good is this’ playing in front of full Suncorp crowds in front of the friends and family you grew up with. I then went to the Brumbies who were rebuilding and two years later made the final so I thought that’s what you did.
“I obviously savoured those moments but probably not as much as I should because it’s such a tough and competitive industry. I’ve been lucky enough to be in some successful teams and some lean years in between so you have to enjoy these moments because you’ve earned them.”
Prior is still under contract with the Force until 2022, unsure if he will continue after that point.
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However, his legacy will remain on throughout the club long after he decides to hang it up as he looks to inspire the next generation of players, such as Ollie Callan.
For Prior, three simple traits stand out for his career and should be a guide for any player looking to succeed in professional sport.
“My legacy whenever my time finishes at the Force will be to work hard, be a good person and always look to improve yourself and those around you,” he stated.
“It’s what I’ve tried to use in my captaincy role in the last four years to help rebuild this club. Nothing comes easy in life and you’ve got to work hard for it if you want something to work out for you.
“You're going to go through some good and bad times, we’re only in this industry for a short time so you’ve got to try and make your mark and hopefully people see that in the way we play and how we’ve rebuilt the club the last few things.”
