This story has been told plenty of times before the message is still the same.
It's one of commitment and determination.
Too often we make excuses and put a dream in the too hard basket.
Not Chris Heighington.
Failure was never an option.
That's why when the opportunity to train and trial with the Wests Tigers presented itself as a teen, Heighington left no stone unturned in pursuit to make it as a rugby league player.
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When he showed up at an open trial one day with little more than a pair of boots and a positive attitude, he ripped in.
No hype. No manager. Just hard work.
That day at Leichhardt Oval, Tim Sheens notice.
A three-month train and trial contract was signed and Heighington was making the journey from his family home in Umina, on the NSW Central Coast, to Concord almost daily.
He was 20.
Even the day when bush fires forced the Pacific Highway to be closed, Heighington found a way to get to training.
It took him a drive in the car, trip on a ferry, bus ride and taxi to get to training but he did it.
No excuses.
He made his first-grade debut a few months later as a 21-year-old and never looked back.
Heighington hangs up the boots
A grand final winner at Wests Tigers in 2005 and Cronulla in 2016, the veteran has more than 300 NRL games to his name.
An English international who has also played for the Prime Minister's XIII, Country Origin and the NRL All Stars, it's an impressive list of achievements.
During that time he's mentored countless players.
The Saifiti twins, Daniel and Jacob, are the latest in a long line.
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Moving to Newcastle for a 16th and last season in the NRL, the workhorse has called time on his career.
And what a career it has been.
Some call him a quiet achiever.
Although there was nothing quiet about his infamous post-grand final interview with Channel 9 in 2005.
This is the bloke who lets it all hang out.
When you type 'Chris Heighington' into YouTube, 'swearing' pops up as a suggested key word.
What a classic.
It is an interview we all know. You can't help but chuckle thinking about it.
On his victory lap, Matthew Johns asks 'what about this?'. Expletives followed as an excited Heighington let it all out.
But that sums up the type of player he is.
The kind of player who holds nothing back.
He gives it his all. On the field and in his interviews.
He's also fiercely loyal.
He never wanted to leave the Tigers for Cronulla. If it was his call, he would've been a one club man.
But had he stayed, maybe he wouldn't have achieved as much as he did.
After all, he's enjoyed a career most players can only dream of.
While he's modest about his achievements, he sits alongside some of the game's greats.
If you look at his story, alongside the greats is exactly where he belongs.
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