THE earliest memory I have associated with Brad Fittler is from my first birthday.

Obviously it’s not that vivid, but I’ve been told how my mum and dad brought out a present and told me it was from Freddy — a footy mate of Dad’s and a friend of Mum’s.

I opened it up and it was like a big playground for my toy cars.

It had ramps and roads and I could hoon my toy cars around it.

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Mum and Dad joked that it was the nicest of all my presents because Freddy earned the most money.

The present went into storage in the garage when I got too old to play with it.

But when I made my NRL debut 18 years after receiving the gift, Mum brought it back out and took a photo of me with the car playground and sent it to Freddy. She said he would be thrilled to see I had become an NRL player just like he and my father had been.

Last Sunday night she brought it out of the garage again.

This time it was because Freddy had selected me in his State of Origin team.

Nathan Cleary during NSW State of Origin training. Source: News Corp Australia

It’s funny how this old family friend, who has known me since I was born, is now coaching me in the biggest game of my rugby league career.

Freddy has been this character who sort of pops up at different times throughout my entire life.

I didn’t see him much when we lived in New Zealand for 11 years, but then when he came back I remember Freddy showed up at my high school one day to help coach our footy team.

Then he coached the NSW City side last year that I played in.

I can’t believe how lucky I am to have him and Greg Alexander as mentors.

Brandy and I have become very close over the past year or so since he’s been helping out at the Panthers. I’m so grateful he’s offered to give up so much of his own time just to help me out.

When I saw his name pop up on my phone on Sunday night my heart skipped a beat.

Normally it wouldn’t be such a big deal, but I knew they were selecting the NSW side that day and I knew what a call from Brandy could mean.

When he confirmed the news, that I had been selected in the Blues team, you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

I was sitting by myself in our loungeroom at home and I was absolutely buzzing.

When Mum and Dad got home from the footy I was speechless. I couldn’t say anything to them and I think they were a little freaked out because they both just left the room.

When Dad came back in he asked me if I had heard from anyone, and I told him I’d made the team.

He was over the moon. He gave me a big hug, then Mum came in the room and she was crying.

It was one of the best moments of my life.

You work so hard to make your parents proud. Mum and Dad have done so much for me, helped me get to this point in my life and in my career.

Nathan Cleary of the NSW Blues. Source: AAP

I owe so much to my parents, and to know I’ve made them proud is the best feeling in the world.

But now I have to put the emotion to one side and try to focus on the task at hand.

I’ve got a lot of family members flying down to Melbourne to watch the game on Wednesday and I hope I can make them proud.

And maybe I’ll get Freddy’s present out of the garage again when I get home.