David Fa'alogo may have won a World Cup with New Zealand in 2008, but he'll always hold his Samoan heritage close to his heart.
In fact, Fa'alogo has permanent reminders of his family's links to Samoa tattooed on his upper back and biceps.
The creative ink symbolises the veteran prop's cultural background and passion for his parents homeland.
So while Fa'alogo will always value his Kiwi inheritance as a bloke born in Auckland, he'll never forget Samoa.
It's why the Knights bookend rates captaining the South Pacific island nation to victory over Fiji last Saturday as one of the highlights of his decade long career.
Led by a powerful performance up front, Fa'alogo's Samoans charged to a comfortable 32-16 win to book a berth in the end of season Four Nations tournament.
"It was the best experience and a week to remember," enthuses Fa'alogo, who also made himself available for Samoa at last year's World Cup in England.
"Just being in camp with the Samoan side and being around the younger players was great.
"They are the future of Samoan rugby league and to be a part of that game and winning to go ahead and play in the Four Nations was priceless I suppose."
For a nation predominately ruled by rugby union, Fa'alogo says last Saturday's win over Pacific rivals Fiji was a significant result.
"It means a lot," he says.
"It’s a rugby union nation, but we are trying to get in there with rugby league.
"For us to make the Four Nations is just a huge boost for us and hopefully the Samoan people can get on the back of that and support us a bit more.
"Prior to this game we had a disappointing World Cup and that win against Fiji on the weekend was one to erase that and move forward.
"Everyone in Samoa is excited and so am I."
