A World Cup call-up for Australia is an honour in itself, but for Lindsay Collins, it also means following in the footsteps of his famous grandfather Lionel Williamson.
Williamson - the blistering winger and two-time World Cup tourist for the Kangaroos in the late 60s and early 70s - played 11 Tests for Australia, as well as making 10 appearances for Queensland.
Named in the Newtown Jets' Team of the Century, Williamson famously scored a double in the Kangaroos' 1968 World Cup triumph over France, and now five decades on, Collins has an opportunity to don the green and gold just as his pop did.
“To see his name when we went into camp on the honour roll, it was pretty special to be in that line and have my name up with his,” Collins said.
“We used to drive 18 hours from Brisbane to Cairns as kids all the time just to see him and all the cousins up there. He still calls me weekly giving me tips on what I need to do on the footy field as well.
“In the June and July school holidays, there was the Confraternity Carnival that he used to coach in. Wherever it was me and my brother and I would go up and run the tee out for them.
“I was waiting to hear officially to call him but he ended up calling me before I got the news. One of his friends messaged him, so he gave me a call.
"He gave me some wisdom from his experiences, he said to just enjoy it and have fun. When he did it last he had to catch a boat and it took them three months to get over there.
“Considering the distance apart, we’ve had a really good relationship with that whole side of the family growing up. To do the same thing that your grandfather did and to have two Australian jerseys in the family is pretty special.”
Making the transition on his first World Cup tour will be the fact he'll have fellow Roosters engine room member and Kangaroos debutant Angus Crichton, as well as Captain James Tedesco for guidance.
Set to make his debut in the no.15 jersey throughout the group stages of the tournament, the towering front rower
With Tedesco now anointed as Australia's skipper, taking over from Club Legend Boyd Cordner, Collins says that there's no one else he'd rather play under as a Rooster or as a Kangaroo.
“I didn’t really get to experience Teddy as a Captain last year, so this year was my first year and it's incredible to see how much he’s matured and taken on that role,” he explained.
“As someone who sees him every day on the footy field, you get desensitised to some of the crazy and cool stuff that he does whether it's scoring tries or setting them up, but as a leader his words hold volume.
“When he talks, everyone listens. Everyone wants to listen and no one wants to let him down because they know he won’t let us down. He’s pretty unbelievable.
“We’ve got a really good bunch of boys here. Everyone’s gotten along from day dot. We had our first real session last week.
“Considering we only had a walk-through the day before, everyone’s on board. The connection is already there and it’s been great.”
Despite being to yet pull on the famous jersey, Collins says that while he wasn't necessarily expecting the call-up, it's certainly welcomed news following a season that had its ups and downs.
To do the same thing that your grandfather did and to have two Australian jerseys in the family is pretty special.
Lindsay Collins On his Kangaroos call up
“There was a bit of a period where I had one foot in the off-season and one foot in-season and I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said.
“When the call actually happened, I was over the moon. I don’t think I understand the enormity of it yet, and it probably won’t hit me until later in life. I’m just living in the now, taking it in and soaking up the experience.
“I told my wife Kaylah first. She’s been there the whole journey and experienced the ups and downs of the season and the sacrifices I’ve made, and the constant steaks for dinner.
“I’m gone away a lot for footy so she holds down the fort, and there was no other person I’d want to tell first from her. Dad and mum were stoked and very happy too.
“It hasn’t run through my head too much. I’m just going to have to wait and see when we cross that bridge, but being in that jersey and singing that national anthem will be pretty special.”
Kangaroos Debutants: Lindsay Collins
