Liam Allan declined to detail the personal circumstances that resulted in his dream Sydney experience being cut short.
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The Tamworth Magpies' new No 10 was a year 11 border at St Joseph's College, in Sydney, when he was forced to return to Tamworth.
He had been at the famed rugby nursery since year 9.
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"I was loving it," the 19-year-old said of his time at St Joseph's.
Having that yanked away was "very disruptive", he added.
Allan left high school midway through year 12, while at Carinya Christian College, and now works as a concreter.
Initially, he played second grade for Pirates before signing with Quirindi for the 2020 season, which was cancelled because of COVID-19.
"That's when I heard the New England comp was going ahead," he said.
"I thought I'd have a crack, see how I go, see if I liked it."
If it did not work out, Allan would have returned to Quirindi. "But as you can tell, I'm loving it," he said.
Last Saturday at Rugby Park, Allan impressed in making his starting debut for Tamworth, in a 38-29 round one loss to St Albert's College.
In the 58th minute, he scored an excellent solo try that reduced Albies' lead to 32-24 after his successful conversion.
Allan is "loving" life.
"Just having fun, really," he added. "Having fun with my mates, playing footy with my mates.
"I just convinced one of my mates [Colin Fogarty] to come over from rugby league, and he's enjoying his footy [at Tamworth]."
Tamworth have a new-look side this year. Against Albies, Harry Mills was the sole survivor from their preliminary final loss to Coffs Harbour last season.
Allan said the Magpies had "plenty to work on".
"But we'll get there," he said, adding: "It's good to have youngsters coming through; it's exciting. It's sort of a new brand of rugby at the Magpies."
Allan may be living life large, but he is eyeing a return to Sydney.
He said he had "a ready made base" in the capital.
"I've got a lot of connections there - through footy as well."
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