It was the phone call that resuscitated Tom Starling's NRL career and ultimately has him now just one win away from playing in a grandfinal at ANZ Stadium.
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Early last year, Canberra recruitment guru Peter Mulholland was scouring the countryside, looking for a cheap young back-up hooker to fill a void at the Raiders behind Englishman Josh Hodgson and Siliva Havili.
He thought of Starling, who Mulholland had seen first-hand come through the junior ranks at the Newcastle Knights when he was the recruitment boss there under Wayne Bennett.
Starling had made his debut for the Knights off the bench in the final game of the 2018 season against St George Illawarra before being discarded by then coach Nathan Brown, who never doubted his courage but didn't think he was big enough at 82 kgs to handle the rigours of week-to-week NRL footy.
Mulholland wasn't as convinced and phoned out-going Knights assistant coach at the time, Mick Potter for his advice on whether he should offer Starling a lifeline .
"Potts gave him a big rap on the proviso that he be allowed to tackle under the ball and not over the ball because of his size," Mulholland said. "He reckoned Tom would offer us a point of difference. Hudson Young, who played with him in the Harold Matts at the Knights, was also pushing for him.
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"I think Tom was all set to play for Burleigh Bears when I rang him and offered him a train and trial deal to give Ricky [coach Stuart] a look at him. Ricky liked what he brought to the table and we offered him a one year deal."
Starling played just three games off the bench last season in wins over Canterbury, Wests Tigers and Cronulla but just his work ethic and attitude around the playing group was enough to convince the Raiders coach to extend him a further 12 months.
It's turned out to be an inspired decision.
With Hodgson suffering a season-ending knee injury in round 9, Starling was chosen in the squad the following week.
At the time, most people believed Hodgson's injury would be the death knell of the Raiders. But Starling was tossed in and made such an impact off the bench, he has started in five of the Raiders' last seven games, winning plenty of accolades for his performances.
In the 13 games he has played this season, Canberra has lost just twice.
"It's fair to say he has exceeded everyone's expectations and all the boys love him around the place," Mulholland said.
